Islamic leaders asked to assist in Rohingya census

Displaced Rohingya in Rakhine State. PHOTO: Evangelos Petratos/EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection/Flickr

By Kay Zin Oo

July 23, 2013

Myanmar’s Minister of Immigration and Population Khin Yi told reporters on July 21 that his office has requested assistance from Islamic leaders and international organizations in collating the names and numbers of Muslim refugees from the communal violence that plagued Rakhine State last year.

Minister Khin Yi said, “We asked for help from Islamic leaders and international organizations to persuade the Bengali [Rohingya] people to accept the work being conducted. Many refuse to collaborate with the authorities, but accept the non-government bodies and international organizations.”

He said that they must finish this head count in Rakhine State before a nationwide census which is scheduled to be conducted from March 30 to April 10, 2014.

“Conducting a census has nothing to do with the military or politics,” he added. “It is for the development of the country so no nationality has a right to stop it or interfere with it.”

Mizzima earlier reported that eight suspects had been arrested by police in connection with the obstruction of data collection among refugees at Thetkepyin village in Sittwe, Rakhine State. The eight are due to be put on trial in the near future.

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