January 9, 2022. (Narinjara)

For the election planned to be held by the Military Council in August ofthis year, a household population census has been collected since January 9thin some local villages, including Muslim community in Maungdaw township ofRakhine state.

“The census has already started here, including in the Muslim villages. Theyare taking the census according to the household lists, saying it is for voterregistration,”  an Aung Bala villagersaid.

A village administrator in Maungdaw township also confirmed that the censuswas being conducted.

“ That’s true. On our side, officials from the General AdministrationDepartment and the Rural Administration Department have already startedcollecting the census”, he said.

In midtown Maungdaw, it was announced that the population census will startat 10:00 AM on January 9th, but the work has not started yet, a Maungdawresident said.

Similarly, in Minbya, there are reports that the Military Council hasinstructed the General Administration Office to take census, but there has beenno actual conduct.

“We are hearing news in the town that the Military Council’s instructions havealready arrived, but we have not seen the census being taken in the villages.The local administrator has not told the villagers anything about it either,”said a Minbya resident.

On December 20th, 109 people were trained for a day at U Ottama hall inSittwe to conduct the door-to-door census across Rakhine state.

U Hla Thein, Chief Legal Officer for Rakhine state wrote on hissocial media page on December 20th that 1290 groups with over 6000 members willbe formed to collect the census in every township in Rakhine state and Paletwatownship on January 9th.