New Delhi – Absentee voting in the military junta's referendum for Burmese citizens in India will commence this weekend. This was declared by the Burmese embassy in New Delhi.

An official at the Burmese embassy in New Delhi told Mizzima that Burmese citizens with valid documents in India are invited to cast their votes at the embassy premises from April 25 to 27.

He, however, declined to mention the procedure and the number of Burmese citizens eligible for voting, and disconnected the telephone.

The announcement of the Burmese embassy in New Delhi is part of the Burmese junta's referendum process, which will be held on May 10.

A Burmese student studying in one of India's universities who received the invitation, however, expressed apprehension that casting a 'No' vote might have repercussion on continuing his studies.

"We are unaware of the process to be followed in India. I fear that the officials might find out the vote we cast and it would have repercussions on my studies," said the student, who is studying for a degree in Political Science.

His honest choice would be casting a 'No' vote, but he said "I have not decided what to do and I would also like to study the draft constitution first."

Another problem, he said, was that there are only a few Burmese students in India and they could be easily identified if they cast a 'No' vote.

According to him, a rough estimate would suggest that there are about a hundred Burmese students studying in India with valid permits.

Meanwhile, Burmese embassies in other countries including Japan, Singapore and Malaysia have also announced to hold similar absentee voting on the junta's draft constitution.

The Burmese embassy in Thailand has begun the process of absentee voting today and will continue until 27 April.