The Wa National Unity Party’s chair U Nyi Palote said Wa people are still facing travel restrictions in the eastern Shan State since early February even though they are holding Myanmar national registration cards (NRCs).

“The restriction has been imposed in the eastern Shan State. The Wa people holding NRCs in Kengtung, Tachileik, Mongton, and Monghsat come to Pangsang. Sometimes, they visit their relatives in Pangsang and Mongmao. They couldn’t go back. They (the authorities) don’t allow the Wa people to travel. For example, some students came back after attending schools. They are not allowed to travel when [the authorities] see the word ‘Wa’ on [the NRCs]. There are difficulties like this. They shouldn’t do this,” said U Nyi Palote.

He continued that he does not know why the government inspection gates have been imposing travel restrictions against the Wa people.

Only the people who have been recognized as Wa people on the NRCs are facing the travel restrictions in the Wa Self-Administrative Division and at the inspection gates in some areas in the eastern Shan State.

“La, Loi La, and Kwan Loi are counted in the Wa people. There are many others [tribes] like this. We are holding the NRCs, but people who are holding the NRCs under La, Loi La, and Kwan Loi and other [tribe] names are allowed to travel. They only restrict those who have the name ‘Wa’ on the NRCs,” said U Nyi Palote.

The Wa Democratic Party and the Wa National United Party issued a statement on the travel restrictions against the Wa people on February 21 where they accused the government of creating disunity among the Wa people by allowing La and Loi La tribes to travel while banning the Wa people from travelling.

The Wa political parties also accused the government of making racial discrimination between ethnic tribes by not allowing them to travel regularly even though the Wa have been officially recognized as one of 135 ethnic groups in Myanmar.

U Nyi Rang, deputy head of the United Wa State Party (UWSP)’s Lashio liaison office, said the travel ban creates obstacles against internal peace and national reconciliation processes.

“During such important time when we are moving towards national reconciliation, such kind of restriction and discrimination against the Wa people makes us lose trust. Because, the NRCs we are holding have been officially issued by the immigration [department]. We didn’t commit any crimes. If they do such kind of restriction and discrimination, it can create instabilities in the region. It may lead to many negative consequences,” he said.

He added that the restrictions are still in place even though the Peace Commission has been negotiating on this issue.

Under the 2008 Constitution, the Wa Self-Administrative Division consists of Hopang Township, Mongmao Township, Pangwaun Township, Matman Township, Namphan Township, and Pangsang (Pangkham) Township.