Villagers are being pressured to lay down demands for Rohingya to be accepted in the race column of the census. Leaders have been told to get signatures from residents agreeing to write Bengali or keep the column blank, said Halu, one of the leaders.
Leaders from 11 villages were summoned by Maundaw Township administrator officer U Kyi San who gave the orders, expecting the completed forms within a day, Halu said.
According to the law, no-one shall threaten, insist, and tempt the respondent causing to answer incorrectly against the willing in the census. No supervisor or enumerator shall deny, or deny omit to carryout assigned, according to Article 17/A. U Kyi San violated both of these, but no action is being taken against him, said Halim, human rights watchdog from Maungdaw.
Villagers will join the census when the word Rohingya is accepted said Hakhim, a student protesting the order.
While many Rohingya are resisting, some families closely tied to authorities are willing to identify as Bengali or Rakhine Muslim, claims Halim.
More than 400 soldiers have been deployed to the area and new Rakhine arrivals has been spotted, said Kaseem, a trader from Ngakura village.
