Junta Tells Civil Servants ‘Vote Yes’

The Burmese junta are systematically preparing for the referendum in May, threatening civil servants into supporting the draft Constitution, according to observers in Rangoon and Mandalay.

State-run New Light of Myanmar has confirmed that the Burmese authorities have been holding meetings at state and division sub-commission levels to bolster support for approval of the regime’s draft constitution.

A civil servant form Sagaing Township, upper Burma, told The Irrawaddy on Monday that township level authorities had instructed government servants to vote “Yes” at the national referendum in May.

She added that citizens must have the right to learn the draft of the Constitution in advance of the referendum, but she complained that she cannot read a copy of the draft Constitution anywhere.

Residents from Kyaukpadaung in Mandalay Division said that local authorities and the Township Department of Immigration and Population have been compiling a list of voters—over 18 years old—who are able to vote in the draft Constitutional referendum.

“Civil servants from immigration departments and quarter level authorities have issued temporary resident cards in quarters and villages,” a resident from Insein Township in the outskirts of Rangoon said.

“The green-colored card, known as a temporary resident card, can be used for six months,” she added.

According to well-informed sources, the commission for the referendum has formed sub-committees at divisional, district and township level, each with 15 members, including 10 members from the civil service and five civilians.

However, it is not clear how much involvement the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) has in the committee selection.

Rangoon residents suspect that if the authorities fail to hold a free and fair referendum, there will be another uprising in Burma, just as in September.

“We need international agencies to monitor the referendum,” a Rangoon resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Irrawaddy on Monday. “If the agencies are not in Burma for the referendum, the junta’s puppet commission will try to perpetuate army control.”

Burma’s military government recently rejected UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari’s proposal to have international monitoring at the national referendum in May.