On the day of referendum to approve the constitution, while urban people in Tachilek, eastern Shan State, were free to vote as they wished, people in the surrounding areas were forced by the authorities to support the junta's charter, according to local sources.
 
Junta authorities in Tachilek held the referendum on May 10, from 6:00 to 16:00 hours and allowed people to vote as they wished, said a shopkeeper in Tachilek.
 
"Many people went to vote, because we could vote the way we wanted to. No one came and monitired us," she added.
 
Most people in downtown areas cast "No" votes. "All members from my family voted 'No' including our friends from civil services," said the shopkeeper.
 
Similarly, people in Markka Hokham, Talaw, Sansai Tai, Sansai Leu, Tawkaw Nai and Tawkaw Nawk were also free to cast votes as they wished.  
 
Meanwhile, authorities in Mongphong, outside Tachilek had announced in Burmese that people were free to vote according to the rules, but the translator said in Shan that, "People who vote 'No' will be imprisoned." People were afraid and cast "Yes" votes, said a villager.
 
"Most people in the surrounding areas don't know Burmese. That's why they just followed what they were told in Shan. Nobody wants to support the dictators who always suppress people. However, to live is more important," said another villager.
 
In Hawngleuk, just outside Tachilek, people were given ballot papers already ticked. They only had to cast the ballot papers into the box.
 
In Markyang, near Hawngleuk, the voters only needed to show their serial numbers to polling station officials, who ticked and cast the ballot papers by themselves.
 
Concerning the referendum, a Shan activist Sai, "The junta doesn't care whichever the people voted. They themselves will decide whether or not to approve the charter."