Forced donations for ID cards

_{By Lieng Lern (Tel:++6683 1537724)}
 
On 13-14 March 2008, a group of immigration officers led by U Myint Zaw went to Wan Na village in Namkham Township to make ID cards for villagers so that they are able to vote in May for constitutional referendum.
 
However, to get an ID card, a person is being asked to pay at least Kyat 5,000 as a donation to officers, said a source.
 
U Myint Zaw has reportedly told the villagers that the ID cards are being issued to them so that they can vote to support the draft constitution.
 
U Myint Zaw, 37, is responsible to sign the ID cards for villagers in villages including Wan Nakongkala and Wan Aawm village.
 
Similarly, civilians in other parts of Shan State such as Kengtung are also being asked local immigration officers to make cash donations, though not in term of payment, to get ID cards.
 
According to unconfirmed sources from Shan State Army (SSA) South, junta authorities have distributed leaflets in communities telling the public to vote to support the new constitution in Eastern Shan State. If people do not support constitution, they are then supporting the SSA, National League for Democracy- Liberated Area (NLD-LA), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and Karen National Union (KNU).  Authorities will then see to it that person is arrested and put in jail for 30 years.
 
Related news: Junta authorities coax, threaten civilians to support charter, SHAN, 19 March 2008