The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the self-proclaimed Kachin independent government issued the first National Registration Card (NRC) to people in its controlled territories, in northern Burma.
The KIO’s NRC has been issued since early May in the organizational capital, Laiza, and Maijayang, in eastern Kachin State, where there are about 50,000 residents in the two towns, excluding foreigers. Voting was banned in the areas during the November 7, 2010, election by the Burmese central government, according to a KIO officer.
Voting was cancelled in 68 village-tracks and villages in 9 townships in Kachin State, which were under control of the KIO, by the military-controlled Union Election Commission (UEC).
“This National Registration Card (NRC) is for the people who could not participate in the election. It is an electronic card designed by computer. All data about the holder is recorded on the card, including income and DNA. The holders can open bank accounts when the KIO-run bank is opened,” said a KIO officer.
“In Laiza almost all of the people got the NRC. However, there is no pressure from the KIO to apply for the card. It depends on our own desire. For me I really want the ID and I made it,” said a Laiza resident.
The Department of General Administration (DGA), the civil administration of the KIO, has issued two types of cards to the people in the territories, the NRC to natives of Kachin State and a Foreign Registration Card (FRC) to foreigners not born in Kachin State, according to KIO officials in Laiza.
The holder’s name, birth date, parent’s name and biographical information are on the card. The total cost for each card is Chinese Yuan 30, equivalent to 3,000 Burmese kyat.
Currently, the card holders can travel as far as Kunming, the Capital of China’s southwest Yunnan province, which borders the KIO territories in Kachin State. However, it does not allow access to Burmese government controlled territories in Kachin State, Myitkyina the Capital of Kachin State, and Manmaw (Bhamo) Township, according to Hting Nan, Vice General Secretary of the KIO.
“Currently, the card holders will be illegal and arrested in the Burmese government controlled areas. We will try to urge the Chinese government to allow NRC holders to travel deep into China. The card can be used everywhere if the current political instability calms down,” Hting Nan said.
At the same time, the KIO is collecting census information on families in the territories while it is issuing the NRC.
