Burmese military junta authorities in Arakan State have been wooing Muslim community members in Sittwe to cast the "yes" vote in the ensuing referendum with promises that it will issue them genuine national ID cards, said a politician.

"The authorities have launched the campaign in Sittwe through a group of Muslim businessmen led by U Khin Maung Lat, who is pro military regime. The group is visiting all households of the Muslim community in Sittwe one at a time to mobilise people to cast the "yes" vote in the referendum, enticing them with national ID cards," he said.

Military authorities in Arakan State started the campaign after rumours began spreading in Sittwe that residents will cast "no" votes if they go to the polling booths.

"I think authorities will force people to cast "yes" votes, but there is a problem of how they can covert "no" votes to "yes" votes, if everyone in Sittwe casts "no" votes in the referendum. So the authorities have been using a new tactic of enticing people to cast "yes" votes," he said.

The Burmese military government used to issue white national ID cards to Muslims in Sittwe, but many Muslims refused to accept because the cards are for resident foreigners, and not for Burmese nationals.

"The authorities knows well what the Muslim community needs from the military regime, so they are wooing the Muslim community by promising national ID cards for "yes" votes," he said.

The Burmese military authorities have issued temporary ID cards to individuals who are over 18 recently for the referendum, but the temporary ID cards are not substitutes for genuine national ID cards.

The authorities are attempting to lure the Muslim community to Sittwe by issuing genuine national ID cards if the community supports the draft constitution by casting "yes" votes, the politician said.