Advance votes in a Kachin village in Northern Burma have rejected the draft constitution, residents said.

A total of 500 people in Nawnghkying village in Kachin State cast their votes on the new constitution five days before the countrywide referendum on May 10. The result was that 300 ballots had 'No' on them and 200 ballots had 'Yes', according to the villagers.

The advance voters in the village who cast the 'No' votes however  have been threatened with fines, confiscation of paddy fields and prison terms by the village administration office (Ya-Ya-Ka) and Lasang Awng Wa Ceasefire Group, the villagers told KNG.

The compilation of advance votes in the village was conducted by the pro-junta village administrator Lamyaw Lum Hkawng and Accountant Jumhpawk Hkawng Lum, the locals added.

Nawnghkying village is in Waingmaw Township on the riverside of Mali Hka (Irrawaddy River) and the village is under the administration of Lasang Awng Wa Ceasefire Group since 2004. It split from the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

The village has over 300 families and there are over 2,000 eligible voters in the village.

The junta is arranging for advance voting in different villages in Waingmaw Township, locals said.