Mawlamyine, 3 October
The military council begins pilot censuses in 20 townships throughout the country, including Mawlamyine, reported junta’s propaganda newspaper.
The military council, which seized power on the pretext of voter fraud, has launched a pilot census this year from October 1 to 15 in order to conduct a nationwide census in 2024.
The military council has designated 20 townships in regions and states to conduct a pilot census, and a total of 100 places are planned to conduct the census in the same manner as it will be done nationwide.
In conducting the pilot census, the officials used mobile tablets with Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) system to ask 18 questions for groups and 68 questions for households from house to house.
According to pro-democracy activist Ko Min Thway Thit, the military council’s pilot census is aimed at preparing for the election as well as gathering detailed information on people involved in the revolution.
The townships chosen by the military council for the pilot census contain the majority of the areas that remained peaceful during the coup.
Sagaing Region Forum Spokesperson, Ko Lwan Thu said, “Since the election is the political exist of the military council, the election may be held depending on the state of the census.”
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has hinted that elections will be held in 2025, following a nationwide census in 2024.
The Ministry of Immigration and Population of the military regime declared on October 1 that Myanmar has an estimated population of 56.2 million people based on the 2014 Population and Housing Census.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), 1.6 million people have fled their homes across the country as a result of fighting and armed conflict following the military coup.
News-Than Lwin Times
Photo-MOI/MRTV