She made the assurance during a visit to Bago Region last week after a resident told her about alleged discrimination against Hindu and Muslim citizens trying to get ID cards and passports.





“According to the constitution, discrimination is not allowed against people of different faiths in our country,” said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The constitution says Myanmar recognises Buddhism as the faith professed by the majority of its citizens, and also recognises Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Animism.

“Treating people residing in our country fairly and equally is our duty,” said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The resident had said it takes a long time to get national registration cards (NRC), and if someone wants one urgently, they have to pay a bribe.

The State Counsellor assured that they do not need to pay anything for IDs and passports except the fee specified by the government.

A retired immigration official said there is no discrimination against people of any religion in the issuing of ID cards or passports, but he said they need to provide verification if they are of “mixed-blood”.

“When we issue national identity cards at schools, we can’t do ID cards for mixed-blood people. They have to come to our office so that we can scrutinise the documents of their ancestors because they are mixed-blood people,” he said.





U Thein Swe, minister of Labour, Immigration and Population, assured that his office does not discriminate against citizens.

“Our ministry does not discriminate against any ethnic people in Myanmar,” he said.