Rural people directed to string up family list outside home

Sar Nyi, IMNA
February 16, 2006

Authorities in southern Burma have ordered the people to put up a list of their family members called Pone Zan-Tha Zae (form No.10) like a poster outside their house.

At present, all dwellings in villages and towns in southern Burma are being forced to put up a list of their family members in a prominent part of the house where it is visible.

All houses in Mon state, some in Karen state and in rural Pegu division have to put up such a list. “All house owners in rural areas have already attached the copy of form No.10 outside their home. The townspeople are yet to comply,” a resident from Pague said.

It is easy for authorities to investigate whenever there is a problem in the area, according to a Village Peace and Development Council member who was ordered to make the announcement regarding the list. Some people are distinctly unhappy about it.

Now local authorities in southern Mon state, such as Thanpyuzayart and Ye township have been ordering villagers to do put up lists of family members.

According to the order, the family which fails to put up form (10) has to move away form the village or town or face the law. Form (10), is registered at the immigration office, one of the important government departments. The department is famous for its corruption over issuing identity cards.