Over 150,000 white cards returned in Maungdaw
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More than 157,000 expired temporary citizenship cards, also known as white cards, had been returned by April 21 in Maungdaw District, says a local official.
"There are ... 73,516 from Maungdaw Township, 74,056 from Butheetaung Township and 10,117 from Taungpyo Township," said Saw Naing, deputy director of the Department of Immigration and National Registration for Maungdaw District.
There were no returns during the Thingyan holidays, which ended Tuesday, but collections have now resumed. There are more than 500,000 white card holders in Maungdaw District. Five centres are receiving expired cards in Maungdaw, four in Butheetaung and two in Taungpyo.
Those who return the expired cards are issued receipts, which do not serve as identity cards but must be exchanged when new ID cards are made available.
President Thein Sein declared in February that the temporary identification cards would no longer be valid after March 31 and all cards must be turned in by May 31. Those who fail to surrender their cards can be charged under the Residents of Myanmar Registration Act (1949) and could face imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, a fine not exceeding Ks 500 or both.
The decision to revoke the cards has caused tension as without them the white-card holders are unable to vote on a referendum on constitutional amendments that is expected to be announced at any time.
