The villagers from Rangoon Division, Hlegu Township have lodged a collective complaint to the local referendum commission today for forcing villagers to cast the 'Yes' vote.
The local authorities visited their village on May 5 and 6 and forced them to cast the 'Yes' vote in advance before the scheduled date as absentee votes. It was then that the villages -- Kyawzawsu, and villagers from Gwaytauk, Baungyi West village tract, Hlegu Township lodged complaints addressed to the Township Referendum Commission.
The most powerful cyclone in modern Burma history that killed more than 110,000 people in the impoverished country. However, the military junta announced to go forward to held referendum on May 10 except 47 cyclone-hit townships.
"The township referendum commission refused to accept the letter and told us to send it by post. Then we posted the complaint letter from Rangoon," a villager in Yegyaw told Mizzima.
The copies of the letter were also sent to Central, Rangoon Division and Northern District Referendum Commissions. In the letter, they complained about the violation of the Referendum law and rule by the local authorities and forced them to cast the 'Yes' vote. They asked the higher commissions to take action against the local authorities and allow them exercise their franchise by secret voting on the scheduled date, May 10.
Gwaytaukaing village tract, Yegyaw Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) members led by U Thein Zaw and Daw Kay Thi Lwin came to their village on May 5 and called all 197 villagers except 12 who were out of station to the village school. Then they forced them to cast the 'Yes' vote in the presence of the local authorities.
Similarly on May 6, Kyawzawsu village, Baungyi West village tract PDC Chairman U Kyi Moe, members U San Htay, U Then Myint, commission member U Aye Kyi, police constable Maung Kyaw from Baungyi police station accounting for a five- member group came to their village and summoned one family member from each household to come to U Maung Thaung's residence and forced all eligible voters to cast the 'Yes' vote.
