Residents of North Mitrovica have not taken part in the population census, according to a Pop Vox survey carried out by KoSSev yesterday. Every single one of KoSSev’s interlocutors shared one common reason for non-participation – the absence of census officials knocking on their doors.
There are only two days left until the end of the population census in Kosovo. While official institutions claim that more than 1.3 million inhabitants have been registered so far, of which about 1,000 in the north of Kosovo, on the other hand, when it comes to North Mitrovica, an impression is made that this process is not even being carried out on the ground.
KoSSev journalists spoke with dozens of local residents. All of them – some on and some off camera – told us that the census officials have yet to visit them.
At the same time, they stressed that they do not know anyone who participated in the census, that is, who was visited by the census staff.
„No one came, I don’t know if they visited anyone“ – the North Mitrovica residents told the KoSSev portal.
Even when it comes to the editorial office of KoSSev, none of the journalists and auxiliary staff were visited by the census officials by the time this text was published.
One of the interlocutors from Jarinje revealed that she was not even aware that the census is ongoing.
„That’s news to me, this is the first time I’m hearing about it, I really didn’t know,“ she said.
One retiree from North Mitrovica also provided a similar answer.
„I wasn’t even informed, I didn’t know, and no one called me, so I did not participate in it,“ he said.
The Kosovo Statistics Agency announced at the start of the population census process that the fines for citizens who do not respond to the census or provide incorrect information will be up to 2,000 euros.
Some interlocutors of KoSSev also noted that they were not familiar with this piece of information.
„Wow“; „Terrible“, „I had no idea“, „I didn’t know that, that’s the last thing we need on top of everything“, „The state can do anything. My opinion is not valid“ – they say.
Despite the announced fines, some of the citizens we spoke to believe that the majority of Serbs will not respond to the census, even if census officials visit them.
„Why would I register,“ one of our fellow citizens pondered.
An older man says, „I’m not going to register, what’s the point, I’m an old man.“
On the other hand, several interlocutors said that they would comply with the majority – „I have not heard of anyone being registered“, and „if others are not registered, why should I“, they say.
One of the citizens, however, says that he is not sure whether he would respond to the census:
„I am more on the side of participating in it, than otherwise,“ he said.
The population census in Kosovo began on April 5 and, unless extended, will last until May 17, i.e. until this Friday.
This is the second census in Kosovo since 1999. The census of 2011 was almost completely boycotted by Serbs, both from the north and the south. At the very beginning of the process, several Serbian parties in Kosovo declared that they would not participate in the new census, while Srpska Lista even announced on behalf of all citizens of Serbian ethnicity that they would not participate either.
From the very beginning of the process, the Agency for Statistics of Kosovo said that they were facing certain problems in the implementation of the census in the North.
Just a few days ago, this agency announced that about 1.3 million people were registered in all of Kosovo, and that they expect a final tally of 1.5 million inhabitants at the end of the process.
On the other hand, when it comes to the north, the agency stated that about 1,000 people have been registered so far.
Population census to start on April 5, 2,000 euros fine per person if they refuse to register
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
