A nationwide census has been launched by Myanmar’s military government, which says it will be used to compile voter lists for a general election promised for next year, even though much of the country is engulfed in civil war.

On Tuesday, Myanmar’s ruling junta officially launched a census aimed at creating election rolls for a promised vote next year.

Census takers guarded by police and soldiers took to the streets of Myanmar on Wednesday for a national survey that anti-junta groups have urged people to boycott. The ruling junta is pressing ahead with the census even though it has lost control of large areas of the Southeast Asian country to armed groups opposed to its rule.

YANGON: Census takers guarded by police and soldiers took to the streets of Myanmar on Wednesday (Oct 2) for a national survey that anti-junta groups have urged people to boycott. The ruling junta is

Myanmar's military government conducts census for voter lists amid civil war, facing resistance from pro-democracy groups and armed militias.

YANGON: Census takers guarded by police and soldiers took to the streets of Myanmar on Wednesday for a national survey that anti-junta groups

Critics argue that the information gathered could be used to monitor and target opponents of the junta, as well as bolster conscription efforts, following the military’s struggles against pro-democrac