15 June 2010: That the Burmese military junta is bent on wooing the electorate with general elections around the corner is now obvious in Chin State western Burma. The regime has lowered the fees of national identity cards as of this month.
The Immigration Department of the government is issuing the cards without the accompanying hassle in Hakha town.
“The reason behind lowering the charge of national ID cards has to do with those who are 18 years being able to vote in the forthcoming 2010 general elections. So we are identifying those who have attained that age in every block in Hakha town,” said an official of the Immigration Department in the town.
During earlier years, a new national ID card cost Kyat 5000 to 10,000, but now it is Kyat 1000 only.
“It is amazing how the fees can be changed like this! I thought that the department would charge at least Kyat 5000, but it is available for Kyat 1000 only,” said Tin Tin who got a new ID.
The process of issuing national ID cards will continue in sub-townships and villages of Hakha Township, it is learnt.
There are seven main blocks in Hakha town that are divided into 22 small blocks and of these eight blocks have been already covered.
