Maungdaw: In gross violation of any election rules which is tantamount to rigging, village administrative clerks have been asked to vote on behalf of people who do not turn up at the polling by 1 p.m. on the day of the referendum.

This directive was conveyed by the Maungdaw Township Chairman Khin Maung Tun on Wednesday to village administrative clerks at a meeting, said a clerk present at the meeting.

"The township chairman summoned all clerks, who came to the office to withdraw their salaries on 30 April and told us to cast "yes" votes if any voter did not turn up after 1 pm," he said.

Over 100 village administrative clerks throughout Maungdaw Township were present when the order was issued, with a few high officials among them.

"Higher officials from the township also instructed the clerks at the meeting to ensure victory at the referendum, and they also told us that they do not want to see any "no" vote in the poll results," the clerk said.

According to referendum rules, the clerk of the village administration is also the deputy village election commissioner, and they have the authority to count the ballots.

Another clerk said, "It is impossible for us to go against the higher authority's instructions, and I think all clerks will follow the order. So there will not be any "no" votes in the referendum results in Maungdaw Township."

It has also been reported that people in Maungdaw Township are not willing to go to the polling stations to cast votes because the government will use its power to win the referendum regardless of the people's desire on the constitutional referendum.