The New Mon State Party (NMSP) has called on the State government to issue the NRC cards to the persons who have no National Registration Cards (NRC) in its controlled areas before the 2020 General Election, said Nai Banyar Lae, officer-in-charge of the local affairs of the NMSP.

Since March, the NMSP has compiled the lists of the persons who have no ID cards in its controlled areas, with the help of CSOs. According to the list, around 2,000 people have no ID cards. The party has sent the lists to the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) in Mon State.

“Karen villages are located in controlled areas. The Karen Ethnic Affairs Minister coordinated with the Township Immigration Department on the issuance of NRC cards.  I don’t know why our controlled area has to inform the NRPC. I think the Chief Minister should help them as they are Mon ethnics.” Nai Banyar Lae added.

U Tin Chel, head of the Mon State Immigration Department said: “There are around 50,000 people who have no NRC cards in Mon State. The department has postponed the issuance of ID cards as it cannot be completed in time before the election. The department has sent an official letter to the Mon State Election Sub-Commission to issue the recommendation letters to those who have no NRC cards, in order that they cannot lose their voting rights.”

But he failed to reveal whether or not 50,000 people who have no NRC cards include residents living in the NMSP-controlled areas.

During the COVID-19 period, the NMSP has allowed the political parties to do canvassing only in Thaton and Mawlamyine Districts in its controlled areas.

The canvassing is banned in the places adjacent to the headquarters. Despite the ban on canvassing, the NMSP will allow people to freely cast their ballots, the NMSP said.

The NMSP is a member of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) formed with the EAOs. On 13 February 2018, the NMSP signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).