The Tedim Township People's Administrative Team (PAT-Tedim) has warned that it will take serious action against anyone working for the junta’s census operation, due to run from 1 to 15 October 2024.
The census is a crucial part of the upcoming junta-controlled elections planned for 2025, which have been criticised as not being free and fair and just a way for the junta to try to legitimise its rule. The census results will be used to draw up electoral rolls for the election.
On 21 September, the junta-appointed Tedim District Administrative Director, U Aung Chan Nyein, launched training courses for census enumerators at the Basic Education High School No. 1 (BEHS-1) in Tedim Town.
In response, PAT-Tedim issued a statement on 27 September. It warned that government staff and others who help carry out census will face severe consequences. PAT-Tedim also urged anyone with information about individuals or organisations aiding the junta to report them on the Zomi Federal Union/People's Defense Force - Zoland (ZFU/PDF-Zoland’s) social media pages.
A spokesperson for PAT-Tedim said: "So far, they [the junta authorities] have not taken any practical steps for the census. However, when the general administration assistant director met and instructed government departmental staff to conduct the census, he emphasised that the census would be crucial for the 2025 election. We urge everyone not to assist in this process. Only by doing so can we stop the junta from holding the elections as they wish in our township.”
Similarly, on 23 September, the Hakha Hakha Chinland Defense Force (CDF), based in the Chin State capital Hakha, issued a statement saying that administrative staff who are not taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and who instead help carry out the census will be treated in the same way as junta soldiers.
Also, on the night of 26 September, ZFU/PDF Zoland issued a statement strongly opposing the census that said it would take severe action against anyone working in the census enumeration process because the census will only extend the junta's grip on power.
