New Delhi - Burma's ruling junta on Friday publicly encouraged citizens to support its draft constitution, for which it will seek approval on May 10.
In an open campaign, the junta, in its mouthpiece Myanma Ahlin Newspaper, urged the people of Burma to support the constitution, saying, "Democracy and freedom cannot be achieved through agitation and protests…But only through supporting the constitution in the upcoming referendum in May."
For the first time the junta revealed that it has been conducting comprehensive campaigns across the country in the form of conducting mock elections and mass gatherings.
The paper said, "Those who love the country, those who love freedom, those who love sovereignty, those who oppose foreign interference and those who oppose foreign stooges – must support the constitution."
On Wednesday, the junta announced that it will hold the referendum on May 10, providing another milestone in its much prolonged 'roadmap to democracy'.
In preparation for the referendum the junta also published its draft constitution on Wednesday, putting it up for sale in bookstalls in Rangoon. However, according to government distributors Sapay Biekman, only 10,000 copies were sent to them for further distribution.
Despite previous reports suggesting that the junta has been extensively campaigning in rural areas, Friday's newspaper highlight is the first nationwide public campaign that urges the people of Burma to support the constitution.
Sources in eastern and northern Shan state report that local authorities have conducted mock elections, teaching illiterate rural villagers how to vote 'Yes' in the upcoming referendum.
According to the Asian Network for Free Election (ANFREL), a Bangkok-based independent institution that monitors elections in Asia, "Mock elections are a sign of the lack of free and fair elections."
The lack of freedom of speech and free debate on the constitution are great flaws to the referendum process and decreases the credibility of the result, ANFREL told Mizzima.
Adam Cooper of ANFREL added that, "The lack of a presence of independent monitors is also a big flaw that makes the result dubious."
Meanwhile, Burma's main opposition party – National League for Democracy – has called on the people of Burma to vote 'No', saying that confirming the junta's one-sided constitution will only cement military rule in Burma.
Thursday, the NLD made fresh calls on the ruling junta to give equal opportunity to opposition groups in campaigning before the referendum.
A NLD statement said the junta's referendum process is a sham, as opposition groups are made to fight the battle on an uneven playing surface. It also said that in recent days the junta has increased violence targeted at its party members.
