Fair or unfair, Burma’s census will drive violence and discrimination

By Francis Wade Feb 17, 2014

Next month the Burmese government will begin the country’s first nationwide census since the early 1980s. As preparation for the start date on 30 March gets underway, several groups have highlighted their concerns about how the census could work to further inflame violent nationalism and exclude minority groups. The International Crisis Group released a strong briefing last week that covers various important issues associated with the census, focusing in particular upon the requirement to list religion and ethnicity – a real danger at present given the recent violence directed towards the country’s Muslim population, and the Rohingya minority in particular.

Smoke and flames billow from a burning building set ablaze during sectarian violence in Meikhtila last year. Pic: AP.

Fair or unfair, Burma’s census will drive violence and discrimination by nelvely