Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Burmese military junta authorities warned villagers of Taungbro Sub-township in Maungdaw, Arakan State, yesterday not to cast the "No" vote in the ensuing constitutional referendum to be held on May 10. If the villagers cast votes against the regime the country will be overtaken by hardships, they cautioned, said a source close to the police.
The warning comes in the wake of the ruling military junta's announcement that the referendum would be held on May 10. Though the authorities are mobilizing villagers to cast the "yes" vote, some village leaders are urging voters secretly to reject the draft constitution. The village leaders say that it will not bring democracy to the country, which has been ruled by the military since 1962.
On April 9, the Maungdaw Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) members, United Solidarity Development Association (USDA) members, Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) members and members of People's militia went to villages on the north of Maungdaw Town to mobilize villagers to cast "yes" vote in the referendum.
The authorities held meetings summoning villagers and said to support the draft constitution. All of the participants were forced to promise at the meeting that they would support the draft. They also told that they didn’t wish to see any vote against the draft constitution and after the referendum people will elect a suitable government. Don't believe outsiders and the National League for Democracy (NLD) because they will destroy the country.
Since 1962, people have been suffering at the hands of the present ruling junta, as a result, people are secretly determined not to cast the "yes" Vote" though the authorities are after the people, said a village elder who did not want to be named.
Burma’s military government on 9 April set May 10 as the date for referendum on a new constitution.
Taking no heed to international outcries Burma’s ruling military junta are going to carry out military supremacy in running to the country eternally through unilaterally holding a referendum on May 10, said a schoolteacher from locality.
