Genocide by Attrition The junta-controlled Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly confirmed on July 14, 2021 that “the citizenship verification process will be carried out in accordance with 1982 Citizenship Law.”212 Senior General Min Aung Hlaing further ordered that “citizenship scrutiny cards must be issued to all citizens born of Myanmar citizen parents. Relevant scrutiny cards must be released to those who are deserved [sic] for having citizenship and associate citizens under the 1982 Myanmar Citizenship Law.”213 55 Under the Project Flowerbed directive, the township-level authorities are designated to scrutinize the accuracy of the household lists “in accordance” with the 1982 Citizenship Law, which limits full citizenship rights to specific ethnic groups, and issue “eligible cards.”214 Given that Rohingya are excluded from full citizenship rights under the 1982 Citizenship Law and its regulatory regime, the vast majority of Rohingya are not eligible for citizenship and can only take NVCs.215 As part of this effort, the Township Planning Administration of Maungdaw in northern Rakhine State issued an internal junta directive to its ward and village administrators on May 11, 2021.216 The directive, signed by Aung Ye, the chair of the Township Administrative Committee, instructs authorities to gather “name lists of the migrants”—which could mean Rohingya and others may be discriminatorily denied citizenship rights in Myanmar as part of the Project Flowerbed.217 It is unclear if Rohingya in Rakhine State are being issued anything more than NVCs during the Project Flowerbed.218 The rapid spread of COVID-19 cases in Myanmar, which skyrocketed in early July 2021, threatened to slow Project Flowerbed.219 In response, amid escalating COVID-related deaths, the junta called for an “acceleration of the Pan Khin [Flowerbed] project, which aims to issue identity and citizenship cards to the whole population, together with the drive to have all households legally registered.”220 The junta also reportedly expanded the project in July 2021 to “displaced persons in the respective regions and states.”221 212 Myanmar Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, “Myanmar Rejects the Draft Resolution Tabled by OIC,” July 14, 2021, https://cincds.gov.mm/node/13530?d=1. 213 “The Government Will Provide Necessary Assistance for Generating Electricity through Solar Panels, Says Senior General,” The Global New Light of Myanmar, December 15, 2021, https://cdn.myanmarseo.com/file/client-cdn/2021/12/15_Dec_21_gnlm.pdf. 214 Township Administrative Committee of Maungdaw, “Guidance Related to the Flower Bed Project,” May 11, 2021, on file with Fortify Rights, unofficial translation. Burma Citizenship Law. See also, Fortify Rights, “Tools of Genocide.” 215 For example, during a meeting on June 10, 2021, the Immigration and Citizenship Verification Working Committee confirmed that the NVC process would be implemented in Rakhine State. “Immigration and Citizenship Verification Working Committee Holds Meeting (1/2021),” The Global New Light of Myanmar, June 11, 2021, https://www.gnlm.com.mm/immigration-andcitizenship-verification-working-committee-holds-meeting-1-2021/. 216 Directive to the Township Planning Administration of Maungdaw, May 11, 2021, official translation on file with Fortify Rights. 217 “Migrants” is a reference to Rohingya and others, which former governments, dating back to the early 1960s, have refused to recognize, using the term “Bengali” or other terms instead to emphasize their alleged “foreignness.” Directive to the Township Planning Administration of Maungdaw, May 11, 2021, official translation on file with Fortify Rights. 218 Township Administrative Committee of Maungdaw, “Guidance Related to the Flower Bed Project,” May 11, 2021, on file with Fortify Rights, unofficial translation. Under the 1949 Residents of Burma Registration Act, Myanmar residents are required to register members of their household and maintain “household lists.” Rakhine State immigration officials and members of the Border Guard Police in northern Rakhine State conduct annual household surveys and photograph Rohingya households with their household lists since the 1990s. Rohingya are also required to promptly report any change to their family situation— including births, deaths, relocations, and marriages—to their respective Township Administration Office. The Residents of Burma Registration Act, 1949. See also, Norwegian Refugee Council, The Seagull: Human Rights, Peace and Development, the Statelessness Network Asia Pacific, and the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion, “A Gender Analysis of the Right to a Nationality in Myanmar,” March 2018, https://www.nrc.no/resources/reports/a-gender-analysis-of-the-right-to-a-nationality-in-myanmar/, p. 42; Fortify Rights, “Tools of Genocide,” p. 57. 219 See, for example, Fortify Rights interview with A.C., undisclosed location, August 10, 2021. By early July 2021, only three percent of Myanmar’s population was vaccinated, and COVID-19 was responsible for significant deaths. See, Naw Theresa, “Myanmar Plunges into Deadly Third Covid-19 Wave,” The Diplomat, July 19, 2021, https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/myanmar-plungesinto-deadly-third-covid-19-wave/. 220 “The Fifth Month of the State Administration Council Government,” The Global New Light of Myanmar, July 22, 2021, https://cdn. myanmarseo.com/file/client-cdn/2021/07/22_July_21_gnlm.pdf. See also, “Pan Khin Project Important for Socio-Economic Lives of Citizens: I & P Union Minister,” The Global New Light of Myanmar, August 15, 2021, https://cdn.myanmarseo.com/file/ client-cdn/2021/08/15_August_21_gnlm.pdf. 221 “The Sixth Month of the State Administration Council,” The Global New Light of Myanmar, September 1, 2021, https://cdn. myanmarseo.com/file/client-cdn/2021/08/1_Sept_21_gnlm.pdf.