Authorities are updating family lists and conducting an “economic revenue inquest” in Three Pagodas Pass Township, near the Thai-Burma border. The activities are in preparation for the 2010 elections, say local residents and political analysts.

On March 2nd, the Land Survey Department, Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) headmen and the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA), held a meeting to discuss the information-gathering project. The USDA is a government-sponsored civilian group that often carries out government policies and is best known for aiding the brutal repression of peaceful protests during September 2007.

During the survey collection, authorities are making inquiries about residents’ businesses activities. Residents report being asked what kinds of crops and plantations they cultivate, how many acres they own and what kind of animals they raise. This has raised eyebrows because it is under the normal auspices of the Development Affairs Department and Myanmar Agricultural Service.

The authorities have also been checking family lists, verifying who is residing in each household and who is away working. “At least three people came to collect information in our quarter, including the quarter headman and USDA members,” said a resident whose quarter was recently finished being surveyed. “They check the family list and ask how many women and men are on in list and how many people are remaining.” Households with family members working in Thailand were also queried about the type of work relatives are doing in Thailand, added the source.

“Their survey is to prepare for the 2010 [election],” a resident told IMNA. Burma’s military government has scheduled elections for 2010, its first since annulling elections held in 1990.

A local Mon political analyst agreed, saying that it must be connected to the coming election because the headmen were collecting exact lists of eligible voters who are home and who are away.