Immigration officers overcharge people for ID cards
17 October, 2007 - In Burma where the system is steeped in corruption and citizens are exploited, it is not surprising that immigration authorities in Tonzang Township, northern Chin state in Burma have been overcharging the people applying for national identity cards.
Houses made up of bamboo in small village in Chin state, Burma.
In August this year, immigration authorities directed people over 18 year's age in Tonzang Township to apply for national identity cards.
Since the order directing to register for identity cards, immigration officers divided the staff into many groups and sent them from house to house in Tonzang Township to find people over 18 years of age and those without national identity cards.
"They charged Kyat 5,000 (Burma currency) for identity cards and Kyats 10,000 for a household list," a local in Tonzang said.
It was learnt that in Cikha town, they charged Kyats 30,000 per person for an identity card.
Moreover, the immigration staff has been making different excuses while demanding the money from the people.
"They only know how to demand money from civilians in stead of helping them," a local complained.
In case of some people unable to provide what is demanded, the staff force the people to take photographs. They take down the villagers' name, age, name of parents and date of birth. After which they ask the villagers to take back their own photograph paying Kyat 5,000.
To beat the officers at their own game some villagers trick them and say their children are less than 18 even though they are already 18. – Khonumthung.
