A conference will be held in May 2015 to confirm the validity of census data collected on ethnicity, the secretary of the Central Census Commission, U Myint Kyaing told Mizzima on August 31.
U Myint Kyaing said that data on ethnic background would not be included in the release of detailed demographic statistics also planned for May 2015.
“We will negotiate with all the ethnic nationals over their claims, only once we have reached agreement with those groups will we issue data on ethnic background,” said U Myint Kyaing.
He said the conference wouldinclude representatives from the Central Census Commission, Census Committee for Ethnic Nationals, the hluttaw committees that deal with ethnic affairs, cultural experts and ethnic leaders in an attempt to deliver census data that is accepted by all ethnic groups.
The 2008 constitution provides a seat in a regional or state hluttaw to act as representative minister if an ethnic grouping is determined to have a population that constitutes 0.1 percent or above of the national population.
