Burmese and Indian pro-democracy group protest in India

Burmese and Indian pro-democracy group protest in India
by -
Khonumthung News
Burmese and Indian pro-democracy groups today demonstrated in New Delhi, India, urging people in Burma to vote 'No' in the referendum to approve the constitution.
Burmese and Indian pro-democracy groups today demonstrated in New Delhi, India, urging people in Burma to vote 'No' in the referendum to approve the constitution.

The demonstrators held aloft anti-regime placards, anti-draft constitution banners and shouted slogans such as "Junta referendum; Boycott! Boycott! ", "Vote; No! No!" on the streets near Jantar Mantar near the Parliament in New Delhi.

"We are here to give a message to the people across the world that the referendum on the regime's constitution to be held tomorrow is most crucial for the people in Burma to decide their future by voting 'Yes' or 'No'", Burmese Buddhist monk Sayadaw Pinya Wit Ritya who was involved in the protest said.

A Burma Campaign India (BCI) statement also asked the Burmese regime to cancel the referendum on the draft constitution and called for the release of democracy leader Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners immediately.

In the midst of criticism from the international community and pro-democracy groups from outside and inside Burma, the regime has vowed to proceed with its referendum on Saturday except in cyclone affected areas.

After the referendum, the election is scheduled to be held in 2010 as part of the regime's seven step road map to so called "disciplined democracy" in Burma.

T.T. Singh from Indian NGO Manav Ekta Parishad (MEP) said, "It is shameful that the junta plans to hold the referendum while democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders are detained.

"The people in Burma should cast the 'No' vote against the new constitution drafted by the military's handpicked delegates. The constitution is illegal because it was drafted without participation of people's delegates," he added.

Burma Campaign India (BCI) and India NGO Manav Ekta Parishad (MEP) issued a joint statement that appealed for donation to help victims of cyclone Nargis in Burma.

Meanwhile BCI and MEP also requested donors not to give the relief to the military authorities. Instead, the donors were urged to go inside Burma and help the victims on their own.

The UN and the international community also urged the Burmese military regime to allow entry of international humanitarian aid to help victims of the killer cyclone Nargis that smashed southern Burma.

At least 22,980 people were killed and 42,119 are missing in the aftermath of cyclone Nargis last Saturday, the state's media said.

However, a US diplomat in Rangoon estimated that the death toll is likely to touch over 100,000 due to post-cyclone illness.