Myanmar's Military Government Launches Controversial Census Amidst Opposition

Photo : Reuters

Myanmar’s military government initiated a nationwide census on Tuesday, asserting that the data collected will be vital for creating voter lists for a general election promised for next year. This move comes even as large portions of the country are embroiled in civil conflict, raising questions about the legitimacy and safety of the undertaking.

The census, which runs from October 1 to October 15, employs over 42,000 census workers, predominantly schoolteachers and local officials, who are going door-to-door in the capital, Naypyitaw, accompanied by armed soldiers and police. The military’s presence has heightened tensions, with many residents wary of participating in the survey.

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The shadow National Unity Government (NUG), an opposition group formed in response to the military coup in February 2021 that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, has urged citizens to exercise “caution” when engaging with census workers. Previous attempts to gather information through surveys have led to violence, with reports of reprisals against those assisting the military.

In a televised address in early September, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military government, stated that the census data is crucial for compiling voter lists, although he refrained from announcing a specific date for the upcoming elections. He did confirm, however, that the military aims to conduct elections in 2025.

Officials from the Ministry of Immigration and Population indicated that the survey consists of 68 questions, addressing topics such as household size, education levels, disabilities, and access to basic services like water and electricity. Sensitive queries concerning the background of residents, including family members who may have been involved in anti-government activities, further complicate participation.

A 33-year-old nurse from Yangon, who is involved in the civil disobedience movement, expressed her concerns over her safety due to the detailed nature of the questions, fearing that the military could use the information against her. Similarly, a 29-year-old man who has taken up arms against the military advised his family to seek refuge with relatives outside their hometown to evade the census.

Critics argue that the military is leveraging the census not only for electoral purposes but also to identify potential conscription candidates, as conscription was activated in February due to mounting pressure from pro-democracy fighters and ethnic armed groups. The military's control over the country is tenuous, with independent analysts suggesting that it governs less than half of Myanmar’s territory.

Opposition figures have expressed skepticism regarding the possibility of conducting free and fair elections in such a tumultuous environment. Kyaw Zaw, a spokesperson for the NUG, condemned any cooperation with the military, characterizing it as tantamount to supporting its “terrorist activities.” Ethnic armed groups, including the Chin Brotherhood Alliance and the Dawei Defense Team, have warned of severe repercussions for military personnel involved in the census.

Past census efforts have encountered violence, with attacks reported during a smaller survey aimed at compiling voter lists in January 2023. These attacks resulted in casualties among military personnel and local officials.

The United Nations Population Fund, which collaborated on Myanmar's previous census in 2014, announced in late 2023 that it could not support the current census due to the prevailing political unrest. In August, however, the military claimed that China, its close ally, had offered technical assistance for the census.

The Ministry of Immigration and Population estimates Myanmar’s population to exceed 56 million, and as the census unfolds, the atmosphere remains fraught with anxiety and uncertainty, highlighting the ongoing struggle between the military government and those opposing its rule.