Many ethnic leaders are opposed to a list that only recognises 135 specified ethnic groups in Burma - a list that dates back to British colonial times. (PHOTO: Shan family/ public domain)

Tomas Ojea Quintana met with protest as he arrived in western Burma’s Arakan State on Friday during his last visit to the country as United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burma.

The 2014 census is a huge undertaking for Burma's government, who insist they have the cooperation of all. The ICG say questions on religion and ethnicity are potentially 'divisive', they may have trouble just getting an answer.

Representatives of Burma's main political parties, though not the USDP, sit for talks with officials of ethnic armed groups at a historic meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where they are due to discuss the peace process, the ceasefire agreement and federalism.

For decades rape has been used by the Burmese army in conflict zones, and despite “reforms” it continues to this day.

Ethnic minority leaders locked horns this week about whether mediators should be used to help negotiate a nation-wide ceasefire deal