Myanmar to complete census in KIO-controlled areas
Myanmar to complete census in KIO-controlled areas
Eleven Myanmar, 20 May 2014
URL: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6151:myanmar-to-complete-census-in-kio-controlled-areas&catid=44:national&It
The government and Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) have agreed to collect demographic information in the KIO-controlled areas and ways, said an official from the Immigration and Population Ministry.
The two sides are under the discussion on way to implement and complete the census-taking process, according to the official.
In recent talks between government and KIO, Minister Khin Yi, who is also the chairman of the Census Commission, and KIO's Vice Chief of Staff Major General Gwan Maw took part in a series of meetings to discuss matters related to census-taking and ethnic and tribal affairs.
"KIO has agreed on principle to cooperate in census-taking. Now, we are seeking appropriate ways to take the census. We have yet to complete the process in some villages near the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army- the armed wing of KIO. They (the KIO side) say they will arrange things for taking a census there," said Director General Myint Kyaing from the ministry.
"We are also seeking coordination as to whether our existing census collectors will do the process or whether KIA members will do the process after receiving training because some areas are located in hilly regions with difficult transport while some areas are filled with land mines."
The process of taking a census has not complete in two states—Kachin and Rakhine. It has been estimated that only two percent of nationwide census-taking is left incomplete. In Kachin State, 97 villages in the KIO-controlled areas have yet to have the census collected.
Myanmar took a nationwide census from March 30 to April 10. However, the deadline has been extended in some areas for various reasons. The whole process is expected to complete by June 2.
The two sides are under the discussion on way to implement and complete the census-taking process, according to the official.
In recent talks between government and KIO, Minister Khin Yi, who is also the chairman of the Census Commission, and KIO's Vice Chief of Staff Major General Gwan Maw took part in a series of meetings to discuss matters related to census-taking and ethnic and tribal affairs.
"KIO has agreed on principle to cooperate in census-taking. Now, we are seeking appropriate ways to take the census. We have yet to complete the process in some villages near the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army- the armed wing of KIO. They (the KIO side) say they will arrange things for taking a census there," said Director General Myint Kyaing from the ministry.
"We are also seeking coordination as to whether our existing census collectors will do the process or whether KIA members will do the process after receiving training because some areas are located in hilly regions with difficult transport while some areas are filled with land mines."
The process of taking a census has not complete in two states—Kachin and Rakhine. It has been estimated that only two percent of nationwide census-taking is left incomplete. In Kachin State, 97 villages in the KIO-controlled areas have yet to have the census collected.
Myanmar took a nationwide census from March 30 to April 10. However, the deadline has been extended in some areas for various reasons. The whole process is expected to complete by June 2.