The junta is preparing to register people for a census in the areas of Mon State that it controls.
The junta wants to register everyone before carrying out its planned national census, which it says needs to take place before elections can be held. Ostensibly the census is required to ensure voter rolls are up to date, but many people worry that, in reality, the junta is just collating as much information as it can about the population to better control and oppress it.
The junta plans to carry out census registration nationwide from 1 to 15 October 2024.
U Myint Kyaing, the junta’s Union Minister of Immigration and Population held a meeting in the Mon State capital of Mawlamyine, to discuss preparations for census registration.
He said that over 3,600 census collection sites have been set up in Mon State and nearly 1,200 enumerators and data collectors have been assigned to carry out the registrations.
But, U Myint Kyaing also said that in areas with challenging security conditions and transport difficulties, the period for census registration should be extended and necessary preparations for an extension should be made.
A spokesperson for the Mon State Revolutionary Front (MSRF), Naing Nagar, said that the census registration and the census are attempts by the junta to facilitate its elections and make them appear more legitimate.
Because of this, MSRF will not support anyone who becomes involved in the census process.
Naing Nagar said: “I assume that the junta military is conducting the census registration to facilitate elections and become a legitimate government by preparing everything in advance. I want to caution that the people and revolutionary forces will not endorse any political figures who engage in lobbying or offer support [for the census and elections].”
He also urged the public not to participate in the census or elections, saying that they are only intended to keep the junta in power and will not be fair or free.
The junta is likely to face challenges registering people for the census in Mon State areas where revolutionary forces hold influence, such as Kyaikto, Bilin, Thaton, Kyaikmaraw, Thanbyuzayat, and Ye townships.
Though the junta has lost control of nearly 80 towns across the country it still says that it plans to hold elections in 2025 once the census has been completed.
