Burmese junta authorities in Chin state have refused to issue national identity cards for Indian tribes living in different parts of the state.

Reports suggest that all the national identity cards of Indian tribes in Hakha town have been seized by the authorities over the last three months. Now they cannot take them back and cannot ask for new IDs.

“The authorities have taken away all national identity cards of Indian tribes on the pretext of making new ones. However, nothing has been done and they refused to make new IDs for those who have completed 18 years of age. The reason could be to stop them from voting in the forthcoming 2010 general elections,” a local in the old market block of Hakha said.

Although there is no record of the exact population of the Indian-Burmese in Hakha capital of Chin State, it could be at least 100 house hold. They live in the old market block area.

“Actually, some rich among the Indian-Burmese avoided seizure of national identity cards, but the authorities refused to issue new ID for their sons and daughters,” said a local government employee.

“The Indian tribes have been living here for many years but the government did not do anything for them officially. This is very hard to understand,” an elder in Hakha said.

The Indian people in Chin state settled during British rule in India and Burma. In those days they were soldiers, government employees and labourers under the government of Burma from India.

Most Indians live in Hakha and Falam townships in Chin state.