U Tant Zin, the immigration officer in Paletwa Township in Chin state, was said to have issued orders to charge Kyat 100,000 (US $ 78.125) per ID card from locals in Paletwa town while the official rate is Kyat 3,500 (US $ 2.734).   it is to be processed in one month, the charge is around Kyat 10,000 (US $ 7.8125), said a local from Paletwa.

For people from village areas, the charge varies from Kyat 6,000 (US $ 4.687) to 8,000 (US $ 6.25) because of the distance from the village to the immigration office in Paletwa.

"The people are in a spot. If they refuse to pay the higher amount they will be in trouble. Since most of the people haven't registered yet, they have to give the sum demanded," said a local from Chin state.

Recently, the Myanmar military junta announced distribution of the national identity card to people cross Myanmar because the junta is preparing for general elections after its National Convention that is drafting the constitution as part of the 7-point road map to democracy in Myanmar.

"The move to give identity cards will also help identifying civilians and rebel groups," a local said.

The immigration department has fixed three categories for issuing identity cards. The first category is for ages between 10 and 18. The second is 18 to 30 and the third is above 30.

The national identity card distribution process will conclude in Paletwa in Chin state in September this year.  – KNG.