Myanmar’s population census should be honest

The journey from decades of military rule to a status where the benefits of democracy are available to all can be one of self-discovery, especially for Myanmar’s military junta. The intention to conduct a population census is one step forward towards a fair society. The authorities must apply caution coupled with consideration. The population count must not serve to misrepresent the state’s Rohingya Muslim community who are being served as underprivileged and oppressed citizens in a country burning with civil strife.

An insincere questionnaire will not present an exact picture to officials on who should benefit from education, health care, housing and transport, based on race and ethnicity, in what is a purported move towards a fair society. Myanmar must realise that the international community and human rights groups are watching their actions. It will affect their reputation among investors and their international standing. Yesterday’s violence in which Buddhist monks attacked the homes of aid workers who provided assistance to Muslim victims of sectarian violence in the Rakhine state is a case in point. The plight of the Rohingyas cannot be ignored. Their status must be legalised under the constitution.