Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Maungdaw District Peace and Development Council (DPDC) Chairman U Hla Win accompanied by Maungdaw Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) Chairman held a meeting on April 30, in Maungdaw Town inviting Imams (prayer leaders) of mosques and Maulanas (teachers) of Madrasas (Arabic schools) from the township for discussions on the referendum, said one of the participants.
The meeting started at about 8 am and over 1,000 Maulanas participated. The Chairmen of DPDC and TPDC Chairman delivered speeches.
The DPDC Chairman said that Buddhist religious leader monks and nuns are not allowed to vote in the referendum, but, religious leaders among Muslims are allowed to vote in the referendum because the government hopes that it will get cent percent vote from the religious leaders, said another participant on condition of anonymity.
The DPD Chairman also said don't believe western countries' anti-propaganda against Burma , regarding the forthcoming referendum because they will destroy our country. Especially, don't believe the propaganda of VOA, BBC, RFA, DVB and other exiled media groups.
The TPDC Chairman added that United States of America (USA) has been into anti-campaign on the referendum and it is asking people (inside) not to cast the "yes'' vote. USA is a dangerous country and it is destroying peace in some countries such as Afghanistan , Iraq and others. It invades the countries only for its interest and kill thousands of innocent civilians in their interest. They have been destroying the countries. Besides, it wants to invade another country like Iran for their benefit.
The TPDC Chairman said that If you (Maulanas) love peace in the country please cast the "yes" vote, other wise, the country will be destroyed and will fall again into the hands of a foreign country as it was before 1948, said one of the Imams.
It is clear that the ruling military junta will not accept any role of the UN, in determining the course of the country's political transition to what the ruling generals call the "seven-point road map to democracy." The junta's rejection of Gambari's suggestion caused a death blow to the mission of the UN envoy. It sent a clear message that the ruling generals will do everything in their own way and they are not at all interested in listening to what the international community says, said a politician.
