Local Burmese junta authorities had forced people to tick in support of the draft constitution at night on the eve of the referendum and told them not to leak the news, resulting in 90 per cent support in the Kunhing Township, 141 miles west of Kengtung, capital of eastern Shan State.
 
On May 9 between 23:00 to 24:00 hours local authorities from different agencies such as the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC), Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), police and others divided themselves into four groups and went to four quarters to wake up people.

"All those who were over 18 were told to tick on the ballot papers. Some people insisted that they were going to vote at the polling station the next day anyway. Why couldn't the authorities allow them to do so?" asked a source who recently arrived on the border.
 
But authorities replied, "Tomorrow you can go and vote No. But tonight you must tick on this ballot paper."
 
Many people were upset but they had to comply. They [people] were then told not to leak the news to other townships.
 
Local authorities announced two days later that the support for the draft constitution was 90 per cent from Kunhing Township.
 
There are 1,500 to 2,000 households in Kunhing.
 
The constitutional referendum except in 40 townships in Rangoon, former capital of Burma, and seven townships in Irrawaddy division which were lashed by Cyclone Nargis on May 2 and 3 was held on May 10  in Burma. The remaining townships will vote on May 24.