Both the Burmese military junta and activists in Mon State have stepped up campaign for "Yes" and "No" votes respectively in the run up to the referendum.
The Mon State Peace and Development Council sent a truck with a music band and ballot boxes to campaign in southern Mon state with security guards.
"The truck carrying letters saying vote "Yes" also carried ballot boxes. The truck travelled around Mudon town and villages and headed for Thanpyuzayart. There were many military intelligence officials following the truck. Along the road they also picked up security men," an eyewitness said.
According to Moulmein residents, this is the first time that they have been such a campaign. The truck travelled around Moulmein through Ye town.
The Thanpyuzayart Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) has cleared up thousands of fliers written in Burmese which said: "If you don't want to live under military rule, vote No."
The fliers were distributed last night. The TPDC immediately held a meeting with members after finding them on the road. The fliers were one inch in width and about eight inches long. The word "Vote No" was in red colour.
"I found the fliers at about midnight when we went to a festival in Hongsar Htaw temple in town. But we did not see them when we returned home at 3 a.m.," a youth in Thanpyuzayart said.
According to a Mon activist they have launched the "Vote No" campaign, in Moulmein, Paung, Pa-an, Kawkareik, Mudon, Ye and Chaunzone Township.
"Depending on the situation we will distribute it. But some time we have to avoid it for security reasons," the Mon activist said and added that they started the campaign in these towns over two days.
The junta's, Maj-Gen Ohn Myint led the government's campaign in Mon state when he travelled through it. The Maj-General told people "If you love democracy, vote Yes" and "If you want to continue living under military rule, vote No."
According to a Mudon resident, people are confused on how to vote and they are worried that if they vote 'No', they will be troubled by local authorities because they have to write their name and ID number on the ballot paper.
Two village headmen in Ye township told villagers at a meeting that if they voted 'No', they will not take any responsibility about what the military authorities do to the villagers next.
