Myanmar’s military says it has extended the timeline for a census it’s conducting ahead of a general election.
Pro-democracy forces fighting the military have urged people to boycott it, saying the data will benefit the junta.
Some 40,000 census takers started going door-to-door nationwide on October 1. The junta said it would conduct the survey before a general election. The military is aiming to hold a vote next year.
Myanmar’s military on Wednesday extended the two-week census to the end of October.
It’s believed to be difficult to reach households in areas of armed conflict. In some regions, roads have been cut off by recent storms and flooding.
Pro-democracy forces have denounced the census. They say it will be used for military conscription and worsen the situation.
More than three million people have been internally displaced since the junta’s power grab. This has raised doubts about the accuracy and purpose of the census.