By Myanmar Times
Daw Win Win Thi, Chair of Pyinmana Township USDP, said
they want to let the government know they must be careful about issuing NVC
cards, which will be distributed to refugees returning to Myanmar, which will allow
them to move around the country freely, as per the recommendation of Kofi
Annan’s Rakhine State Advisory Commission.
The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) on
Monday held a protest in Pyinmana City against issuing National Verification
Cards (NVC) to Rakhine Muslim refugees returning from Bangladesh.
“If the people and the USDP are against the issuing of
NVC cards, the protest must be understood as a warning against the 57 recommendations
of the Annan commission,” she said.
The protest was held at Pyinmana township’s USDP office
and attended by more than 100 people.
“NVC cards are given to those who have a right to be
citizen,” she said. “We want the government to state whether it will grant
citizenship and under what criteria.”
But Minister of Labour, Immigration and Population U
Thein Swe on April 25 clarified that NVC cardholders are not allowed to freely
travel around the country.
To get NVC cards, applicants have to fill out Form 4.
They will be allowed to move around freely as citizens or resident foreigners
only after they have been scrutinised at the township, district, state and
central levels, according to the 1982 Citizenship Law.
Those who apply for citizenship have to apply by
themselves and present all required documents within five months of returning
to Myanmar, U Thein Swe said.
“There may be more concerns if the situation affects
ethnic people. We don’t want to grant equality to them (Rakhine Muslims who
fled to Bangladesh) through the NVCs. That is my anxiety and also the anxiety
of the party,” said Daw Win Win Thi.
The USDP will organise demonstrations in Lewe and Tatkon
townships on Tuesday and in Ottarathiri township and Shwe Nanthar stadium in
Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday.
U Than Htike Lin, a teacher in Pyinmana who attended the
protest, told The Myanmar Times, “We don’t want them to be equal with other
ethnic groups. We are afraid for the future. Please keep Muslims from Rakhine
State [away] using the law. Do not give them a chance.”
The surge of nationalism adds to the plight of over
700,000 refugees, mostly Muslims, who have been driven out of Myanmar following
persecution and seek to return to Myanmar.
The protesters called on the government to ignore the
suggestions of the Annan Commission, because they fear that the returning
displaced people would dilute their ethnic identity.
So far, less than 1 percent of the total numbers of
displaced peoples from northern Rakhine have been allowed back into the country
as the debate continues about how much freedom NVC holders will be able to
enjoy.
The recent outbreak of violence in northern Rakhine
erupted in august last year when Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army fighters attack
government outposts.