National census worries ethnic groups

Tensions are rising between the government and various ethnic minorities in the build up to the 2014 national census, soon to be held between March 30 and April 10.

Despite it being hailed as an important step in the reform process, ethnic minorities have been protesting the Central Census Commission’s use of out-dated ethnic names and groupings. This has led to growing mistrust and suspicions that the government is using the census for political ends. 

 “Taking a look at the examples of other countries, the 2014 nationwide census process may have an impact on the country’s politics,” Salai Issac Khin, from the Chin National Action Committee on Census (CNACC). “The commission’s disclosure of 53 Chin nationals is totally wrong. We oppose 41 questions even though the process is aimed at knowing actual facts and figures on social and economic grounds. And we feel anxious that these facts and figures collected might be used for the government’s political gains,” he added. 

Ethnic organisations earlier demanded the postponement to the census and inclusion of ethnic representatives in the collection of census data to ensure transparency. 

The Central Census Commission, led by Minister of Immigration and Population U Khin Yi, recently discussed the upcoming census with representatives from ten national races in the capital Nay Pyi Taw. At the meeting, they agreed to go ahead and amend the errors only after the completion of process. 

Despite the assurances, many have voiced strong disagreement with the 41 questions included in the census, which misspell and wrongly designate ethnic groups and sub groups into 135 officially approved ethnic races. 

Some ethnic groups, such as the Kachin, have voiced concern that the census will only boost tension bet-ween the government and ethnic armed groups and have urged that the census be postponed until a ceasefire is in place. The Chin have also protested the commission’s inclusion of 52 groups under the title of Chin national races, a number they say that does not represent the social and cultural reality of the area. 

The Ministry of Immigration and Population announced that the information collected from the censuses will be used to implement government policies. 

But ethnic groups are worried that the information will be used for political advantages and have repeatedly called for a meeting to discuss the process and iron out differences. 

“There are code name errors. The census-taking process should only be after heads of all national races hold a meeting,” said Daw Khun Jar from the Kachin Peace Network.

In western Myanmar, some Rakhine communities have voiced worry that the census will legitimise the Muslim Rohingya minority. Some, calling themselves “Rohingya”, are branded as “Bengali”. 

Rakhine social and political organisations asked the government not to use the term “Rohingya” in the census but there has been no reply, according to San Hla Kyaw, vice-chairperson of the Rakhine Literature and Culture Association. He added that if a specific answer was not forthcoming, all Rakhine groups will boycott the census. 

Tin Ngwe, a member of the Kaman Social Welfare Association, even ventured to question whether the government was playing various communities against each other. 

The largest ethnic minority in Myanmar is the Kayin. Kayin is the Burman spelling while the group is more widely recognised as Karen.

Nan Su Su Hlaing from the association of Kayin Women noted the citation that there are 135 ethnic groups is wrong. “There are some missing Kayin sub-tribes in the list while some currently revealed in the list did not really exist,” she said.

Mon, Kayah and Shan ethnic communities also pointed out incorrect naming of their ethnic groups. Naga, Pa-ai and Zome ethnic groups pointed out that they have their own literature, culture and history like other ethnic groups, although the census only recognises them as sub-groups. 

In making the list of ethnic people residing in Myanmar, the Immigration Department has said that statistics were originally collected in 1931, during colonial era, then again in 1953-54 after independence, and in 1961 under the new junta.