The availability of the national identity card has become easy from this month with the immigration department of the Burmese military junta issuing them without the usual fuss in Kalemyo, Sagaing division western Burma.

“We are issuing national ID cards for those who are 18 years of age so that they can vote in the forthcoming 2010 general elections. It has been seen to by higher authorities,” said an employee of the department.

“We can have IDs without an application being made by one of the family members and we have to pay Kyat 5000 only. Earlier it cost more than Kyat one lakh. I didn’t go to the office, my father went and did everything for me,” said a local in Kalemyo.

Even last year, getting a new national ID card from the immigration department needed the recommendation of the township authority, family registration card, form no. 10 and more than Kyat one lakh. Now Kyat 5000 and a photograph is needed only, he added.

The military junta has already announced the guideline for registration of political parties for the forthcoming 2010 general elections.

“If we check the members of the Election Commission, they are all on the side of the junta. Even if we cast our vote for other parties, they will recollect it and cast it into their box. There will be no change at all,” said an employee of Education department in Hakha, Chin state.-