Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-04-01

A decision by Burmese officials  refusing to allow people to class themselves as Rohingya in the first national census in three decades,  has sparked anger among the oppressed minority.

The United Nations (UN), which is helping to carry out the census, said all Burmese should be allowed to choose their own ethnicity.

But Burmese officials said the Muslim Rohingya must call themselves Bengali or they would not be registered.

"If a household wants to identify themselves as 'Rohingya', we will not register it," government spokesman Ye Htut was quoted by Agence france Presse (AFP) on Saturday.

"They will only write down 'Bengali' because Rohingya doesn't exist," Aung Mya Kyaw, a local MP, added.

The government of Myanmar, also known as Burma, views Rohingyas as immigrants and denies them citizenship.

The Rohingya, on the other hand, feel they are part of Myanmar and claim persecution by the state.

“The government has committed to run the census in line with international standards, including allowing all respondents the option to self-identify their ethnicity," the British embassy said while protesting the Burmese government's decision, Indendent.ie reported on Sunday, March 30.

Meanwhile, Nay San Lwin, a Rohingya activist told Radio Islam the Burmese government agreed to have Rohingya counted in Census to receive funds from the UN, “now they have shown their true colours.”

Launched on Sunday, March 30, the census aims to reach 12 million households in Burma, ending its mission on April 10.

The government's arbitrary decision to bar Rohingyas registration followed fierce opposition by Buddhists in the western Rakhine state who threatened to the boycott the census, saying it would legitimize the status of the oppressed minority.

Buddhists anger extended to foreign aid workers who fled Rakhine's capital, Switte, a few days ago after mob attacked them.

On Saturday, several houses across Switte hanged a sign that read: "This house is protesting against the census. Do not register".

Described by the UN as one of the world's most persecuted minorities, Rohingya Muslims are facing a catalogue of discrimination in their homeland.

They have been denied citizenship rights since an amendment to the citizenship laws in 1982 and are treated as illegal immigrants in their own home.

Rights groups have accused the Burmese security forces of killing, raping and arresting Rohingyas following the sectarian violence last year.

“Police are burning the private parts of Rohingya women and doctors and Nurses are killing Children,” said Lwin.

“Burmese Attacks on international NGO's in Arakan state to force them to leave so no-one witnesses their atrocities,” added Lwin.

Over the last two years, Buddhists mob attacks have left hundreds of Rohingya Muslims killed and evacuated more than 140,000 from their homes.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)