With an eye to May’s referendum, the Burmese junta is distributing temporary identity cards to ceasefire groups, a Sino-Burma border-based analyst says.
The junta started issuing the cards among ceasefire groups, including the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and Kachin Independent Organization (KIO), the last week of February. They are temporary identity cards and are white, as opposed to the usual red.
Political observer Aung Kyaw Zaw remarked, "The main goals of this action are to garner support for the referendum as well more control over them [ceasefire groups] in the future."
Whether the referendum will be a success or not, issuing white identity cards to ceasefire groups will make it easier for the junta to identity them in the future, Kyaw Zaw noted.
Both the UWSA and KIO have refused to sign counter-statements against Aung San Suu Kyi's statement of last year and have been under increased pressure from the junta ever since.
A UWSA spokesperson told Mizzima on Monday that: "Two days ago they [junta immigration officers] arrived at our place and started organizing white temporary identity cards for us."
"At least six groups of immigration officers came here including their Chief Maung Maung Swe and Culture Minister Khing Aung Myint," he added.
According to the UWSA's spokesperson the main purpose for urgently providing temporary citizen cards is to lay the groundwork for May’s referendum.
"They said the distribution of temporary cards to us will be concluded by the end of March," the spokesperson elaborated.
However UWSA members want the temporary citizen cards not for the referendum but because it will prove that they belong to the country and are real citizens of Burma.
Further, accepting the white card will allow them to travel and move around the country freely – which was never previously possible due to not having an identity card.
The KIO has also accepted the distribution of temporary cards by the junta.
An officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said most KIO personnel and their family members are starting to register for the white cards.
He said, "Around five to six officers from the Immigration Department came the last week of February to Laiza [a KIO controlled area] and collected a list of people eligible for white identity cards."
"Most of us have done it but not for the referendum. The junta is doing this in pursuit of achieving their goals, but we have our own plans," he added.
