The UNFPA and the Government of Myanmar conducted a special five-day joint mission to the non-government controlled area in the far north east of the country to discuss cooperation with non-state armed groups and ensure their participation in next year’s landmark population census.

UNFPA’s Myanmar Representative, Ms. Janet Jackson, together with H.E. U Khin Yi, Minister of Immigration and Population, held talks with leaders of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and other key groups during their visit to the Wa Special Region in the Northern Shan State on 23-27 November (2013). This included stops in the townships of Tachileik, Kyaing Tone, Minelar and Pan Seng. The talks were seen as extraordinary considering years of conflict and isolation between the Myanmar Government and militant groups in the region. 

During the course of the mission government and non-state armed group leaders, who over 30 years ago fired at one another, now shook hands and talked about how to make the census a success. About 2150 people attended the four meetings, including nurses and midwives, teaches, community leaders, ethnic leaders, local appointed and elected leaders, members of the business community, as well as youth and women’s groups. 

At each town hall meeting the Minister for Immigration and Population gave a detailed presentation on what a census is, how it is conducted as well as how the data will be used. He stressed why it is important to the people of Myanmar. He also outlined in detail the new census law, explaining how it protects collected data, thus helping a wider effort to build trust in the census exercise so that the people of Myanmar are confident that the answers they give will be kept confidential and will not be manipulated in the enumeration or analysis stages and that people need not fear retribution. He then appealed for everyone to answer the 41 questionnaire questions truthfully and honestly and to participate fully in the census. 

Ms. Jackson stressed the importance of full participation in the census, saying that “the census is not just about statistics. It is about people and behind people there are many stories to tell. Through the census enumeration, the country will see a people’s account of their living circumstances and conditions. This is information that matters for making plans for the future development of Myanmar.” She said participation of all regions of the country was important as well as ensuring that regional leaders help explain to local populations why the census is important. “The mark of a good book is not in its cover front or back, but in its content. The cover is what holds the book together and the centre and content is of course is the essential and exciting part. In a census, it is the people of Myanmar who count. They have an important role to play in providing and making the substance of the content of the enumeration. The story of Myanmar can only be as good as you, the people, tell it. The census is therefore a chance for you to help make transformation happen in your country ” 

Ms. Jackson also explained how UNFPA was giving technical and financial support to the census preparations. She emphasized the large investment made by the donors and the strong commitment this has from the highest levels of the UN and UNFPA in particular. “The UN Human Rights Charter begins on the basis of ‘we the peoples’ and the census is about honouring the right to be counted and ensuring that everyone in Myanmar is counted,” she said. 

Situated along the borders with China and Thailand, Wa Special Region is one of some 16 non-state armed group controlled areas in Myanmar. The Wa are composed of a number of minority ethnic groups, involving at least four languages. The 2014 Myanmar census will be the first such known exercise the Wa region. Until recently, it would have been unheard of for the government and the Wa State Army to even consider engaging in joint talks. However, alongside preparations for the census, peace talks are being held. The Ministry of Immigration and Population has said that it has obtained guarantees of a ceasefire during the enumeration process in April 2014. The census has provided opportunities and new reasons to push forward Myanmar’s socio-economic reform and bring an end to warfare. 

UNFPA will attend part of a meeting that will be held on 30-31 December during a Peace Talks meeting that will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. There, UNFPA will have discussions on the census with the 16 armed groups.