Kachin National Organization, February 27, 2014

UNPFA is launching 2014 population and housing census on 1st March 2014 despite the wrong ethnic coding, without inclusive community consultation and approval

We, the Kachin National Organisation, are extremely concerned that Ms. Janet Jackson, UNFPA Representative is planning to launch controversial ‘2014 Population and Housing Census on 1st March 2014’ despite the incorrect ethnicity coding and without proper inclusive community consultation with ethnic nationalities.

Almost all non-Bamar ethnic nationals have expressed their concerns about the population census process assisted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Campaign groups, expert reports and the civil societies from the ethnic nationalities have expressed doubts about the validity of the government’s official tally of 135 recognized ethnic groups and warned the census procedure is seen as alienating and breaking up ethnic national identity. The objections and proposal to postpone the timing have been made to the President Thein Sein and Thura Shwe Man, Speaker of Luttdaws.

Hkanhpa Sadan, General Secretary of Kachin National Council, Kachin National Organisation said, ‘We, ethnic nationalities are marginalised again. Nobody wants to listen to us about our concerned. We recognised, the fact that census should one day be conducted but it is not the right time due to the fighting in Kachin state and Northern Shan State. We did not have a chance to vote the by-election in 2012 because of the fighting despite Aung San Suu Kyi was elected in lower Burma at that time’. Moreover, it is incorrect ethnic coding system. I would like to urge the donor countries to encourage full participation and dialogue with all the stakeholders for this important census process. At the same time, I would like to warn them to take full responsibility for the impact of this centrally controlled process and it must be avoided at all cost.

View press release as PDF

For more information contact:

1). Mr. Hkanhpa Sadan, General Secretary, Kachin National Council, Kachin National Organisation (KNO), Phone: 0044 7944 240 774

2). Mr. Hkunsa Mahkaw, Executive Member of KNO Central Committee, Phone: 0044 7828 268801

 

You may also like: