26 January 2011: The Burmese military junta has begun a secret census as of earlier this month and it is believed that the local authorities are planning to set up a ‘People’s Military Service’, as the regime recently issued such a law in Matupi Township of Chin State, western Burma.

“The Block and village authorities could not say why the census was being undertaken. It may be related to a recruiting drive,” a local from Matupi town said.

“If they start recruiting, I will have to join the Chin armed group or run away somewhere,” a local youth said. Local people are worried on account of the local authority’s behaviour recently.

“We have to send our wards somewhere, or else they will face jail. We cannot imagine what will happen in the future,” a mother said.

The draft law issued on December 17, 2010 declared that men between the ages of 18 and 45 and women between the ages of 18 and 35 must serve in the military for two years. The service term could be increased to five years in the event of a national emergency.

The local authorities are conducting a census based on parameters such as male, female and age groups and will cover other townships in Chin state soon.

“The issue must be discussed in the forthcoming assembly session. The authorities seem to be neglecting and disrespecting the people,” a Chin Progressive Party member said.

The ‘Physicians for Human Rights’ announced its findings conducted in 19 December 2010 of 92% of the first population-based survey to document human rights violations in all nine townships in Chin State.

The report, ‘Life Under the Junta: Evidence of Crimes against Humanity in Burma’s Chin State’, provides the first quantitative data on human rights violations against people of nine townships in Chin State, Western Burma.