The terrorist military council is using an electronic ID verification system linked to a National Database to identify and arrest military deserters, police deserters, Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) staff, and political activists across the country, according to military sources in Naypyidaw. The council has detailed records of military deserters, police deserters, CDM staff, and free political activists from across the country stored in a computerized National Database system. This database can be accessed at any time by immigration and military officers to verify suspicious individuals’ personal information and cross-reference their details.
The military council has installed checkpoints connected to the National Database system with Person Scrutinization and Monitoring System (PSMS) capabilities at various locations including Junction 3, Mile 26 of Yangon-Mandalay Highway, Min Lwe Kon Gate at the Hlegu-Bago border, Nyaung Khar Shay, Hpa-an Gate, Myawaddy Border Gate, Tachileik Border Gate, and Kawthaung Border Gate. According to a border crossing service agency based in Myawaddy on the Thai-Myanmar border, there has been an increase in arrests of CDM staff members attempting to cross to Mae Sot while applying for bridge crossing permits, as their information is logged in the computer system making it impossible for listed individuals to avoid detection.
The military council has implemented this system after collecting biographical data from all Myanmar citizens through the e-ID system and entering it into the database, along with biometric data collection, verification, and unique ID (UID) number issuance. They are now using this system to track down and arrest their targets. The system represents a comprehensive surveillance infrastructure that allows the junta to monitor and control civilian movement throughout the country, particularly targeting those involved in anti-regime activities or who have deserted from military and police forces. The extensive database includes detailed records that make it increasingly difficult for individuals sought by the regime to travel or conduct daily activities without risk of detection and arrest.
