Published
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 13:07
Junta campaigns to get "yes" vote in northern Arakan
The Burmese military junta is systematically preparing for the referendum in May, threatening civil servants into supporting the draft constitution, according to villagers in northern Arakan.
The Burmese military junta is systematically preparing for the referendum in May, threatening civil servants into supporting the draft constitution, according to villagers in northern Arakan.
A town dweller in Maungdaw Township , yesterday said that township level authorities had instructed government servants to vote "yes" at the national referendum.
A schoolteacher in Maungdaw Township said that citizens must have the right to see the draft of the constitution before the referendum, but he complained that he cannot find a copy of the draft constitution anywhere.
Villagers said that local authorities, Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) members, clerks of Rayaka (VPDC's clerk) and the Township Immigration Department have been collecting lists and taking photographs of voters---over 18 years old.
Officers of the immigration departments have not issued temporary resident cards in quarters and villages yet. They will issue it soon, a trader of Maungdaw Town said.
It is learnt that in Burma proper, the concerned authorities provided the green card, known as a temporary resident card, valid for six months. But, in northern Arakan, it is not clear whether they will provide the green card or white card, said a university student from Buthidaung Town .
A former schoolteacher said, the commission for the referendum has been formed in the village level with three members including the VPDC Chairman, one schoolteacher and one Rayaka (VPDC's) clerk.
The pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) members are very busy organizing the people to get the "yes" vote.
Yesterday, the Western command Commander Brigadier Maung Shien arrived in Maungdaw Town for organizing matter of constitutional referendum. The concerned officers of Maungdaw Township also went to monasteries by hoisting two flags in a car, one is national flag and another one is Buddhist religious flag to pay respect to the monks and to offer gifts as an organizing purpose for ensuing constitutional referendum, said a local trader.
It is also learnt that in Maungdaw Township , the authorities will recruit about 1,000 Red Cross members soon to support the next constitutional referendum.
Residents of Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships are sad that they will be compelled to vote "yes". Villagers believe that the concerned authorities will create a situation to get the "yes" vote in the ensuing constitutional referendum by any means. They have learnt lessons from the election held in 1990.
"We came to know that there will be no international agencies to monitor the referendum. If the agencies are absent in Burma for the referendum, the SPDC's pawn commission will try to get the "yes" vote by any means, “said a politician from Maungdaw town referring not to be named.
Burma's present ruling junta recently rejected the United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari's proposal to have international monitoring at the national referendum in May.
A town dweller in Maungdaw Township , yesterday said that township level authorities had instructed government servants to vote "yes" at the national referendum.
A schoolteacher in Maungdaw Township said that citizens must have the right to see the draft of the constitution before the referendum, but he complained that he cannot find a copy of the draft constitution anywhere.
Villagers said that local authorities, Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) members, clerks of Rayaka (VPDC's clerk) and the Township Immigration Department have been collecting lists and taking photographs of voters---over 18 years old.
Officers of the immigration departments have not issued temporary resident cards in quarters and villages yet. They will issue it soon, a trader of Maungdaw Town said.
It is learnt that in Burma proper, the concerned authorities provided the green card, known as a temporary resident card, valid for six months. But, in northern Arakan, it is not clear whether they will provide the green card or white card, said a university student from Buthidaung Town .
A former schoolteacher said, the commission for the referendum has been formed in the village level with three members including the VPDC Chairman, one schoolteacher and one Rayaka (VPDC's) clerk.
The pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) members are very busy organizing the people to get the "yes" vote.
Yesterday, the Western command Commander Brigadier Maung Shien arrived in Maungdaw Town for organizing matter of constitutional referendum. The concerned officers of Maungdaw Township also went to monasteries by hoisting two flags in a car, one is national flag and another one is Buddhist religious flag to pay respect to the monks and to offer gifts as an organizing purpose for ensuing constitutional referendum, said a local trader.
It is also learnt that in Maungdaw Township , the authorities will recruit about 1,000 Red Cross members soon to support the next constitutional referendum.
Residents of Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships are sad that they will be compelled to vote "yes". Villagers believe that the concerned authorities will create a situation to get the "yes" vote in the ensuing constitutional referendum by any means. They have learnt lessons from the election held in 1990.
"We came to know that there will be no international agencies to monitor the referendum. If the agencies are absent in Burma for the referendum, the SPDC's pawn commission will try to get the "yes" vote by any means, “said a politician from Maungdaw town referring not to be named.
Burma's present ruling junta recently rejected the United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari's proposal to have international monitoring at the national referendum in May.
