At least 43 people were killed by anti-coup resistance forces after they had warned civilians against assisting or participating in the regime’s nationwide census last month. Naypyidaw stated that the census was conducted with 40,000 workers in order to compile voter lists for elections tentatively scheduled for November 2025. Myanmar’s previous census was held in 2014.
The Oct. 1-15 census was later extended to Oct. 31. Among the dead were 35 military personnel and police officers, five administrative staff, and three teachers. Pro-democracy activists warned citizens against participating in the census, adding that it’s an attempt by the regime to gather personal information.
The military detained around 40 people in connection with attacks on census workers, while resistance forces state that they had arrested 20, including administrative staff, education workers, and other people they accuse of collaborating with the regime.
Resistance forces claimed to have carried out 36 attacks during the census with incidents reported in Sagaing, Mandalay, Tanintharyi and Bago regions. Five administrative offices were attacked in Yangon Region. The regime has denounced all attacks and arrests as “terrorism.”
Fifteen soldiers were killed en route to collect census data by the People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Yamethin Township, which is located 54 miles (87 km) north of the capital Naypyidaw and 125 miles (201 km) south of Mandalay.
Legal expert Kyi Myint questioned the regime’s authority to conduct a nationwide census, given that it went against the 2008 constitution when it seized power after the 2021 coup. “Min Aung Hlaing has no authority to hold elections or emergency powers. The census collection and related activities are just deceptions and are illegal,” he told DVB.
The regime announced that it has collected census data from approximately 13 million households. However, data was not collected from areas under PDF or ethnic armed group control. The U.N. states that there are 3.4 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have fled their homes, mostly due to conflict.
The National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory in the 2020 general election, which was held four years ago today, on Nov. 8. The military justified its coup on Feb. 1, 2021, claiming that there were widespread voting irregularities. International organizations have found no evidence of this and declared the election results largely free and fair.
The Mon State Federal Council, which represents resistance groups in Myanmar’s southeastern state, opposed the regime census and said it will also oppose any regime-run election next year.
“Our main opposition activities will prioritize preventing political parties from participating in the fake election, preventing campaign activities, discouraging people from voting, and preventing polling stations and elections from operating,” said Thiri Mon Chan from the Mon State Federal Council.
