MNDAA threatens to deny residency rights without IDs in Mongyai
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Htet Nadi/Pearl (NP News)-Sept 29
According to information obtained by The Statesman, MNDAA has threatened Mongyai residents to not recognize as residents unless they make identification cards.
The Kokang forces are reportedly collecting local censuses in nearly 20 villages, including Hoya village tract and Kaung Maung village tract in Mongyai Township, Shan State, under the pretext of conducting household censuses and local verification cards.
"After going through all the areas, they will conduct a census to make Kokang households. Once they get the household cards, they will do the second stage of the Kokang verification and registration. The household list will take three to four months. Households will not get it immediately. Once the households have been enumerated and the Kokang households have been issued, they will not receive it back immediately. According to what they said, it will take four months. They said they will issue it back after they get it," a local told The Statesman.
It is reported that it will take more than four months to obtain the household registration and local verification card, and that those who do not have them will be considered guests and not residents, which is why the locals are facing difficulties.
Similarly, young people in the Mongyai region are also concerned that the Kokang group is recruiting new members after collecting censuses in the areas they control.
"If you don't do it, you will be considered a guest, not a local. They are talking like that. Mongyai has nothing to do with Kokang. Their action made us suffer a lot. If they don't have IDs, they will not be recognized. In this area, all the people living under the control of ethnic armed groups are worried. We have to think about different things. Young people face that matter too,” he continued.
Currently, strict inspections and gate fee collections are being carried out when locals travel from one place to another in the Mongyai town.
"In the past, we could move freely. Now, no matter where we go, no matter what we do, the locals are subject to surveillance. The situation is that we have no freedom of movement. Movement has become a matter of concern," he continued.