Published
Monday, May 5, 2008 - 13:01
Burmese junta mounts pressure on people to vote "yes"
The Burmese junta authorities in Chin state have been exerting a lot of pressure on the people to vote in favour of the draft constitution in the referendum scheduled to be held on May 10.
The Burmese junta authorities in Chin state have been exerting a lot of pressure on the people to vote in favour of the draft constitution in the referendum scheduled to be held on May 10.
Recently, officials of Township Peace and Development Council of Tedim Township in Chin state threatened people to cast the "yes" vote.
"If the authorities find people marking "X" ("No" vote), the immigration office will immediately remove the name of the voter from its household list," said a local in Tedim township requesting anonymity.
Similarly, locals authorities, members of village councils in rural areas of Hakha and Thangtlang townships in Chin state also warned villagers that they will take action against those who cast the "No" vote.
No details are available on what sort of action is to be taken.
The authorities distributed the draft constitution in Tedim Township though the people do not have enough time to read it in detail as the authorities took it back after a week, locals added.
Most Chins in Burma who stay in Mizoram, the north eastern state of India and are eligible to cast votes are now in a dilemma whether to go to Burma for voting given the circumstances in Chin state.
"In this atmosphere, apparently the referendum will not be free and fair and some people are not keen to go to the polling station and vote," a local in Chin state said.
The authorities have imposed travel restrictions on the people who live in Chin state during the referendum.
Most referendum observers believe that the Burmese regime might use any means to rig the referendum because the regime is fully aware of the people's attitude in Chin state who are ready to reject the constitution if the polling is free and fair.
Burma
Burma has been under military rule since Ne Win led army grabbed power in 1962.
Burma's 1974 constitution was scrapped after the military coup staged by Saw Maung in 1988.
The military regime held general elections in 1990 where Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's party NLD (national League for Democracy) won a landslide victory but the regime refused to honour the result.
The Burmese regime announced that multi-party elections will be held in 2010 after the constitution is approved in the referendum.
Yet, the critics said the new charter is designed to foster the role of the military in Burma's future politics and ban Aung San Suu Kyi from contesting the elections and hold the post of president because her husband was British.
Recently, officials of Township Peace and Development Council of Tedim Township in Chin state threatened people to cast the "yes" vote.
"If the authorities find people marking "X" ("No" vote), the immigration office will immediately remove the name of the voter from its household list," said a local in Tedim township requesting anonymity.
Similarly, locals authorities, members of village councils in rural areas of Hakha and Thangtlang townships in Chin state also warned villagers that they will take action against those who cast the "No" vote.
No details are available on what sort of action is to be taken.
The authorities distributed the draft constitution in Tedim Township though the people do not have enough time to read it in detail as the authorities took it back after a week, locals added.
Most Chins in Burma who stay in Mizoram, the north eastern state of India and are eligible to cast votes are now in a dilemma whether to go to Burma for voting given the circumstances in Chin state.
"In this atmosphere, apparently the referendum will not be free and fair and some people are not keen to go to the polling station and vote," a local in Chin state said.
The authorities have imposed travel restrictions on the people who live in Chin state during the referendum.
Most referendum observers believe that the Burmese regime might use any means to rig the referendum because the regime is fully aware of the people's attitude in Chin state who are ready to reject the constitution if the polling is free and fair.
Burma
Burma has been under military rule since Ne Win led army grabbed power in 1962.
Burma's 1974 constitution was scrapped after the military coup staged by Saw Maung in 1988.
The military regime held general elections in 1990 where Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's party NLD (national League for Democracy) won a landslide victory but the regime refused to honour the result.
The Burmese regime announced that multi-party elections will be held in 2010 after the constitution is approved in the referendum.
Yet, the critics said the new charter is designed to foster the role of the military in Burma's future politics and ban Aung San Suu Kyi from contesting the elections and hold the post of president because her husband was British.
