BurmaNet News, April 26-28, 2008

[Editor]

April 26-28, 2008 Issue # 3453

QUOTE OF THE DAY – Irrawaddy
If we vote ‘yes’, democracy will never come to Burma.
—Par Par Lay, a well-known Burmese comedian

INSIDE BURMA
AP: Security tightened in Myanmar amid rumors of anti-government campaign
Irrawaddy: Suu Kyi’s party launches Vote ‘No’ tour
Mizzima News: Junta adopts dubious means to win support for constitution
Mizzima News : Junta likely to control Internet connection sector-wise
DVB: Officials vote “Yes” on behalf of civil servant
DVB: Minister’s insult to Daw Suu provokes anger

ON THE BORDER
AP: Malaysia Tightens Borders against Illegal Immigrants

BUSINESS / TRADE
Xinhua: Burma's marine exports increase in 2007-08

HEALTH / AIDS
DVB: Detained 88 Generation Students’ health worsens

REGIONAL
AFP: Thailand hopes Myanmar referendum is 'credible'
Mizzima News: Burmese passport forger on the run
Mizzima News: Release Burmese rebels from Indian jail: Solidarity Committee

INTERNATIONAL
Associated Press and Irrawaddy: Overseas Burmese protest Constitution
Irrawaddy: UNSC deadlocked on Burma

OPINION / OTHER
The Nation (Thailand): Junta control the only sure outcome in Burmese vote
Mizzima News: Vote 'Yes' or 'No'?


____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

April 28, Associated Press
Security tightened in Myanmar amid rumors of anti-government campaign

Security has been tightened in Myanmar's largest city after rumors spread
that pro-democracy activists would launch protests against an upcoming
referendum on a draft constitution backed by the ruling military.

Riot police carrying batons were deployed Sunday at major road junctions
and Buddhist monuments including Yangon's famous Shwedagon Pagoda, the
site of many earlier demonstrations in the staunchly Buddhist country.

Dissidents in Myanmar and exile groups elsewhere have urged voters to vote
against the constitution, saying it is merely a ploy to perpetuate more
than four decades of military rule.

Voting ahead of the May 10 referendum by Myanmar citizens has already
begun in some countries including Japan and Singapore.

In Tokyo, at least 230 Myanmar citizens held their own mock "referendum"
outside the Myanmar Embassy, where official polls were also held for
expatriates with the required official documents such as exit permits. The
requirement effectively excludes most exiles and dissidents from the vote.
The same rules applied to expatriate voters elsewhere.

A Myanmar man was arrested and 12 demonstrators were injured Saturday in a
scuffle with Japanese police as about 150 Myanmar citizens and Japanese
supporters demanded all expatriates be allowed to vote.

In Thailand, about 100 Myanmar activists also staged a peaceful
demonstration in the capital, Bangkok, shouting slogans against the draft
constitution.

University student Myo Myint Maung, 23, a spokesman for the Overseas
Burmese Patriots a loose network of Myanmar activists based in Singapore
said many were wearing caps printed with the word "No" on them.

"The draft constitution is for a sham democracy," the student said. "It's
not for a true and real democracy as all the terms in the constitution are
biased toward the military regime."

The new constitution is supposed to be followed in 2010 by a general
election. Both votes are elements of a "roadmap to democracy" drawn up by
the junta. The draft constitution guarantees 25 percent of parliamentary
seats to the military and allows the president to hand over all power to
the military in a state of emergency.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been under military rule since 1962.

Its government has been widely criticized for human rights abuses and
suppression of pro-democracy parties such as the one led by Nobel Peace
Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for over
a decade.

The ruling junta refused to honor the results of 1990 general elections
won by Suu Kyi's party.

Last September, at least 31 people were killed and thousands more were
detained when the military cracked down on peaceful protests led by
Buddhist monks and democracy advocates.

____________________________________

April 28, Irrawaddy
Suu Kyi’s party launches Vote ‘No’ tour - Wai Moe

The National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of Burma’s democracy
icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, is taking its vote “No” campaign across the county
even as the regime is warning opposition forces to cease anti-referendum
efforts.

Win Naing, a NLD spokesperson, told The Irrawaddy on Monday that leading
members of the party were traveling to other cities to explain the party’s
position on the constitution and the referendum.

“At the moment, we can campaign in at least five regions of the country—it
is what we can do under the oppressive conditions created by the
authorities,” he said.

“The NLD also plans to monitor the voting in the country as long as we
can,” said Win Naing. “The party will also explain how to vote ‘No’ to the
people of Burma through members in rural and urban areas. Our position is
that people should vote against the unjust and undemocratic constitution
in the referendum.”

Kyaw Hsan, the minister of information and a central secretary of the
Union Solidarity and Development Association, traveled to Sagaing Division
in northern Burma on April 21, the junta’s mouthpiece, Myanma Alin’s
reported on Monday. He called on local people to vote “yes” in the
referendum and vowed the constitution would guarantee stability,
development and democracy.

Meanwhile in Rangoon, the largest city in Burma, security was tightened by
authorities.
“There are police in civilian clothes and uniforms along with Swan Ah-shin
at bus stops in Rangoon both in downtown areas and outside of downtown,” a
student in Rangoon said. “Some of them were holding batons and some were
holding guns.”

Rumors were circulating that the authorities would set up CCTV cameras at
polling booths to allow them to determine who voted “Yes” or “No,” said a
taxi driver in Rangoon. “So I am now thinking whether I should go to vote,
because I don’t want to vote ‘Yes’ but I don’t want authorities to know
how I voted.”

Sources said vote “No” campaigns by dissident groups could be found across
the city. “I saw a group of students distributing vote ‘No’ leaflets in
Tamwe Township,” said a shop owner.

One opposition group, The All Burma Federation of Student Union, released
a statement on Monday supporting the vote “No” campaign and launched its
own house-to-house, underground campaign across the country.

“There are more than 10 young organizations that are campaigning to vote
against the constitution,” said Tun Myint Aung of the 88 Generation
Students group.

“Activists will try to monitor voting on May 10,” he said. “Then everyone
will know if the junta cheated and how they cheated.”

The well-known comedians, the Moustache Brothers, are conducting a vote
“No” campaign in their nightly performances in Mandalay, the second
largest city, using a visual gag of crossing their arms over their chests,
a tourist told The Irrawaddy.

"The military junta is doing its utmost to encourage everyone to vote
'Yes' on May 10 and endorse the constitution,” says Par Par Lay, one of
the Moustache Brothers. “But the Moustache Brothers would like everyone to
know that they will vote 'No' in the referendum.”

“This is a sham constitution that the junta is trying to force onto us,”
he says. “If we vote
'Yes,' democracy will never come to Burma."

Par Par Lay and Lu Maw, his fellow comedian, were both imprisoned for
seven years during the 1990s. Par Par Lay was jailed again for more than
one month during the 2007 civil uprising.

____________________________________

April 26, Mizzima News
Junta adopts dubious means to win support for constitution - Mungpi

Notwithstanding the Burmese military junta's claim that it will hold the
May 10 referendum in a free and fair environment, its activities on the
ground and information leaked by insiders suggest that the junta is
desperately resorting to various means, not all of it ethical, to win
support.

The junta desperate to garner supporting votes is creating a fear
psychosis by intimidating and coercing the people as it vigorously carries
on with its campaign.

Intimidation and an environment of fear

In a campaign meeting held in Rangoon, a junta official who is the
chairman of a township, told participants that for the convenience of
voters, every vote is being registered with code numbers.

This coding system would help authorities trace the voters and the votes
cast, thereby creating an environment of fear.

"In every ward, for everyone, votes are registered with code numbers
against the name. It is for your convenience," the official said.

The official while explaining this method provided an example saying, "For
instance, you are staying in a ward and you work for the whole day and you
can come to the station only after your work. It would be tiring and
difficult to find a card for you where your name is registered with a
code. For this, we suggest you cast your vote in advance so as to avoid
inconvenience."

Besides, the official said that policemen are to cast their votes in
advance as they would be taking charge of security during the actual
polling and that they will have no time to come to their respective booths
to vote.

This clearly reveals that the junta has already planned polling in advance
for its civil servants, which is against the universal norm of voting.

Win Min, a Burmese military analyst based in Thailand, shoring up this
information said, "a reliable source of mine very close to the military
said they [the junta] is planning to force civil servants, including
university lecturers and school teachers, and possibly other USDA members
to go for advance voting in front of senior military authorities' eyes."

"This is clear intimidation to vote 'Yes'. It's unacceptable since it
violates the basic right to secret voting. It also shows that the
authorities are worried that these civil servants are likely to vote 'No'
if they're free to do so," added Win Min.

Vote rigging

An official in Burma's second largest city of Mandalay, who has been
appointed secretary of one of the polling booths told Mizzima that while
the counting of votes will be conducted after the voting, the results will
not be announced but sent to higher authorities.

"It now seems that the results will be declared only from Naypyitaw,
though counting will be held in the polling booths," said the official,
who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.

Sources in the military establishment said, Maj. Gen. Myint Swe, member of
the ruling military council, communicated this information to a meeting of
600 people that included senior government officials and senior NGO
representatives in Naypyitaw on April 9.

Misleading campaign

Sources said the junta in a bid to lure people to vote 'Yes' is also
twisting its campaign slogans to mislead people.

Van Lian, chairman of Burma's largest opposition party – the National
League for Democracy in Chin state's capital Hakha town, said authorities
are explaining to villagers that 'Democracy could only prevail if they
vote in favour of the draft constitution.'

"They [authorities] told villagers that 'if you don't like the military
you should vote 'Yes' because approving the draft constitution will end
military rule," Van Lian told Mizzima.

Van Lian said, In Chin state, northwestern Burma, most people do not like
the military and therefore authorities are adopting this tactic to win
supporting votes.

In one of the secret campaign meetings in Rangoon, the township chairman
told participants that if the draft constitution cannot be approved in the
referendum, the military will prolong its rule merely by saying that a
fresh constitution needs to be drafted.

"We know the public does not like being governed by the military. If you
don't like being governed by the military, you should vote 'Yes' in the
referendum."

"But if you say 'No', the military will say they will re-draft the
constitution and stay in power as long as it likes. So you should vote
'Yes' to prevent it from staying in power longer," added the official.

____________________________________

April 28, Mizzima News
Junta likely to control Internet connection sector-wise

The Burmese military junta plans to block flow of information by
controlling the internet during the ensuing referendum on May 10, a source
in the government said.

The government is likely to cut-off internet connection from the server
sector-wise. The source added.

An official from the Myanmar Communication Department, speaking on
condition of anonymity, told Mizzima that the government is likely to
divide internet users into three categories – Public Access Centers,
Commercial usages, and the Hotel and Tourism sector – and control and
filter accordingly.

They will first block flow of information from 'Public Access Centre'
(PAC) as soon as government information, facts and photographs are leaked
from these sources. However, commercial and official usages are likely to
remain untouched.

But if government information continues to leak, it is likely that the
commercial sector will also be terminated in the second phase.

"In this way, they can easily find out from which source, the information
is being leaked. Moreover, they can avoid criticism from the international
community for the news blackout by disconnecting the internet," an
observer in Rangoon, who monitors the junta's internet control, said.

He added that the government is likely to control the internet in two ways
- a total cut off and reducing the bandwidth - to slow down flow of
information.

In the meantime, internet users in Rangoon and other metro cities
complained internet speed has slowed down drastically.

During September's saffron revolution, internet based commercial
activities including tourism incurred heavy losses in terms of millions of
US dollars when the government blocked the internet, which is the main
source of information outflow from Burma to the outside world.

____________________________________

April 28, Democratic Voice of Burma
Officials vote “Yes” on behalf of civil servant

A civil servant in Magwe division's Salin township who tried to vote in
advance of the referendum was informed by local authorities they had
already cast “Yes” votes on her behalf.

U Tar, a 1990 people’s parliament representative for Salin township, said
the woman was due to go on a trip and would not be in the township for the
referendum.

"A female teacher who was due to go on an advanced teacher training
program went to the township authorities and informed them she was there
to vote in advance for the national referendum as she was going to be away
on that day," U Tar said.

"But the township officials told her she didn't need to worry about it as
they had already cast 'Yes' votes in advance for her and the other three
people in her family."

U Tar strongly condemned the actions of the local authorities in denying
the woman her right to vote in the referendum.

"This is not the normal procedure in a national referendum,” he said.

“The government is doing whatever they want and abusing their authority.
There is no justice here."

____________________________________

April 28, Democratic Voice of Burma
Minister’s insult to Daw Suu provokes anger

Locals in Yaynanchaung, Magwe division, were furious after the minister of
electric power (1), colonel Zaw Min, made a derogatory remark about Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi during a “Vote Yes” campaign in the area.

One Yaynanchaung resident said Zaw Min had indirectly insulted the
National League for Democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during his
campaign speech.

"He said that if one lets one’s daughter marry a dog, then she will only
be a dog's wife, or if she marries a beggar, she will be a beggar's wife,”
the resident said.

“He went on to say that if a woman marries a Kalar [vulgar term for Indian
and also for westerners] then she'll be a Kalar's wife. He said people
would be wise not to make the wrong decision [by choosing the Kalar's
wife]."

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi could be excluded from running for office by the
junta’s constitution due to her marriage to a foreign national.

The Yaynanchaung resident said news about Zaw Min’s remark about Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi had spread quickly across the region and people were angered
by what he had said.

"Everyone understands what Zaw Min meant but they wouldn't speak out
against him,” he said.

“Now a lot of people are going to vote ‘No’ at the referendum because they
hate his foul mouth."

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

April 28, Associated Press
Malaysia Tightens Borders against Illegal Immigrants

Malaysia will not build new detention camps for illegal immigrants to ease
overcrowding, but plans to tighten border security to keep them from
entering the country, a Singaporean news report said on Sunday.

Human rights activists have renewed criticism about cramped conditions at
17 prisons where some 10,000 illegal immigrants are held while awaiting
deportation, after some 60 detainees at a southern center rioted and set
fire to a building last week.

Officials said tensions boiled over partly because 1,090 detainees were
held in a center that was not equipped to hold so many people. The rioters
were mainly from neighboring countries including Burma, Indonesia, Vietnam
and Cambodia.

But Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the solution to overcrowding is
stricter border controls—not more detention centers, the New Straits Times
reported.

"Our borders are porous at the moment," he was quoted as saying. "What we
need to do now is beef up security and increase border patrols so that
they cannot enter the country through land or sea."

Syed Hamid said Malaysia has already converted many old buildings and
prisons into immigration detention camps.

"It was not our intention to cram the illegal immigrants into these
depots, but at the same time it is not likely that we will be building
additional depots as a solution to this problem," he said.

Syed Hamid's aides couldn't immediately be reached for comment Sunday.

Malaysia estimates there are between 500,000 and 700,000 illegal
immigrants in the country, most of whom work in low-paying jobs as
construction and plantation workers, house cleaners, waiters, maids, gas
station attendants and gardeners.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

April 28, Xinhua
Burma's marine exports increase in 2007-08

Myanmsr exported 352,652 tons of marine products, hitting 561 million US
dollars in the fiscal year of 2007-08 which ended in March, the local
Weekly Eleven News quoted the fishery department as reporting Monday.

The figures was up from 2006-07's 234 million dollars but stood less
against 2007-08's target which was set at 750 million dollars.

The fishery authorities have projected to raise the export earning to 850
million dollars in the present fiscal year of 2008-09.

The report claimed that China topped Myanmar's marine export countries,
followed by Thailand, Japan and Singapore.

According to official statistics, Myanmar's fishery sector stood the
fourth largest contributor to the gross domestic product and also the
fourth largest source of foreign exchange earning in the past five years.

Meanwhile, Myanmar is cooperating with a regional organization of the
Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC) in conducting survey
of marine resources in the country's waters, focusing species with
commercial potential, local media said.

With a long coastline of over 2,800 km and a total area of 500, 000
hectares of swamps along the coast, the country has an estimated
sustainable yield of marine products at over one million tons a year.

____________________________________
HEALTH / AIDS

April 28, Democratic Voice of Burma
Detained 88 Generation Students’ health worsens

Ko Aung Aung Tun, brother of 88 Generation Students leader Ko Ko Gyi, has
said conditions in Insein prison are to blame for the deteriorating health
of activists currently being held there.

Aung Aung Tun said the 88 Generation Students leaders and other human
rights activists were suffering from ongoing abuses and a lack of proper
medical assistance in the prison.

"Ko Ko Gyi has not been eating well for more than 20 days due to his
stomach problem," Aung Aung Tun said.

"He can only eat boiled rice and other things that are easily digestible."

Aung Aung Tun said the activists were also being held in isolation and had
not been able to take any exercise for the past month.

"He and other 88 generation students are being held in what amounts to
solitary confinement," he said.

"Before, they were allowed an hour’s walk every day inside the prison. But
now they have been in confined like this for over a month and they haven't
exercised their legs in that time."

Aung Aung Tun said other student leaders were also suffering from health
problems, including Min Ko Naing, who continues to have eye problems after
being denied permission to see a specialist.

"Ko Hla Myo Naung is going to completely lose his vision,” Aung Aung Tun
went on to say.

“He had already gone blind in one eye due to a lack of treatment and now
his other eye is getting worse and worse."

____________________________________
REGIONAL

April 28, Agence France Presse
Thailand hopes Myanmar referendum is 'credible'

Thailand's foreign minister said Monday he hoped Myanmar's upcoming
referendum on a new constitution would be "credible", on the eve of a
visit by the country's prime minister.

Noppadon Pattama said the neighbours may discuss the referendum, which
Myanmar's military rulers say will pave the way for elections in 2010,
during General Thein Sein's visit.

"The democracy process could be brought up at the talks as Thailand wants
the May 10 referendum to be successful and credible," Noppadon told
reporters.

"We want to see Myanmar on a good development track."

Detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other pro-democracy
activists say the proposed constitution simply entrenches the role of the
military, which has ruled since 1962.

Aung San Suu Kyi would be barred from running for president under the new
constitution because she was married to a foreigner.

Noppadon said Thailand would not raise her participation in the ballot as
it was a "domestic" issue for Myanmar.

The two countries would discuss drugs and the nearly two million illegal
workers and almost 200,000 displaced people from Myanmar living in
Thailand, he said.

Thein Sein will be accompanied by the foreign, interior, transport, labour
and construction ministers for his three-day visit.

He is due to meet with his Thai counterpart Samak Sundaravej and with King
Bhumibol Adulyadej on Wednesday.

Thailand is one of the biggest investors and trading partners in Myanmar,
spending billions of dollars a year to tap into the country's natural gas
and hydropower resources to fuel its own growing economy.

____________________________________

April 28, Mizzima News
Burmese passport forger on the run

According to the Bangkok Post a major forger of passports has been
arrested in Thailand, but his Burmese accomplice remains at large.

Mohammed Karim (56), of Bangladesh, was arrested in a raid conducted by
Thai police in the Bang Kae District of Bangkok on Saturday. However is
accomplice, a Burmese citizen named Tin Oo, is still on the run.

The two are accused of forging passports from countries such as the United
States, France, Spain, Belgium, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan. They are
alleged to have sold their counterfeit goods to Thai and Burmese touts and
brokers who in turn passed them on to prostitutes and persons associated
with smuggling and terrorism.

About 1,000 passports were seized in Saturday's raid, of which 577 had
been completed, along with nearly 700 forged visa stamps.

The forgers charged 3,000 to 10,000 baht, or $95 to $315, for each
passport, netting Karim 300,000 to 400,000 baht per month from the illegal
operation, according to a statement from the accused.

It is the biggest forged passport seizure in Thailand in the past five years.

Police remain on the hunt for Tin Oo. The culprits can be punished by up
to 20 years imprisonmen

____________________________________

April 26, Mizzima News
Release Burmese rebels from Indian jail: Solidarity Committee - Solomon

Indian political parties including the Communist Party of India and the
All India Forward Bloc today called on India to release the 34 Burmese
rebels, who are now languishing in Kolkata's Presidency jail.

The call came in a message sent to a press conference held at Kolkata
Press Club on Friday by the Solidarity Committee for Burma's Freedom
Fighters, a group formed in solidarity with the Burmese rebels by Indian
intellectuals, academicians, Human Rights activists and journalists.

Speaking to reporters, intellectuals, politicians and observers, Nandita
Haksar, member of the Solidarity Committee, pointed to the loopholes in
India's judicial system as it has failed to provide justice to the Burmese
rebels, who have been detained in Indian soil for over ten years.

"It is not legal, we cannot detain people for eight years without
charges," Haksar said.

The 34 Burmese rebels, who are currently languishing in Presidency Jail in
Kolkata, were arrested by Indian security forces at Andaman & Nicobar
Islands in February 1998.

The Indian defence establishment accused them of gun-running but they were
detained at Port Blair with out a charge-sheet filed against them for
eight years.

However, after Human Rights activists made appeals, the Supreme Court
ordered the case to be transferred to Kolkata for a day-to-day trial.

"But even after eight years they (Burmese rebels) should have got day to
day trial but the Kolkata court has violated this," Haksar added.

Haksar said, in solidarity with the Burmese rebels, who have long been
deprived of justice, the Solidarity Committee in cooperation with West
Bengal government, particularly the Sports and Transport Ministry is
organizing a Bengali-Burmese friendly football match on Saturday.

"Certainly it is for this awareness that the Burmese freedom fighters are
in jail in Kolkata and in fact the whole football match is organized by
the sports department of the government of West Bengal," said Nandita,
referring the Burmese rebels as 'Burmese Freedom Fighters'.

The Press conference also arranged an official introduction of the Burmese
football team, which will play against India's premier football club
Kingfisher's East Bengal on Saturday.

The Burmese football team will also play against Jadavpur University
students on Sunday to highlight the plight of the Burmese rebels.

"We are saying that the most meaningful way to support the democracy
movement in Burma is to first release freedom fighters in our own jail,"
Haksar said.

"It's no use just supporting Aung San Suu Kyi we must not have freedom
fighters in our own jail," she added.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

April 28, Associated Press and Irrawaddy
Overseas Burmese protest Constitution

Thousands of exiled and expatriate Burmese people have been gathering
outside Burmese embassies around the world to express dissatisfaction with
the military government’s constitutional referendum.

Voting has already begun in some countries ahead of the May 10 referendum.
While some were allowed into their respective embassies to cast their
votes, others were turned away by officials.

The protests were mostly launched by Burmese nationals—both those who can
vote and those with no voting rights in the referendum—at their respective
embassies in several countries, including Canada, Singapore, Malaysia,
Japan, South Korea and Thailand.

The biggest demonstration was held in Singapore on Sunday where some 2,500
protesters—many wearing red t-shirts with the word “No” emblazoned on the
front—gathered outside the Burmese embassy and protested against the draft
constitution.

Sources in Singapore said that even some Burmese people who were invited
to vote in the national referendum by the embassy were denied the right by
authorities when they went into the embassy to vote.

Burmese nationals hold up their passports as a sign that they have the
right to vote, gathered outside their country's embassy in Singapore to
vote in a referendum on a draft constitution on April 27. (Photo: AP)
More than 40,000 Burmese people are currently living in Singapore, about
10,000 of who were officially invited by authorities to vote in the
referendum, said sources.

The Burmese regime has stipulated that only citizens with legitimate
documents, such as Burmese passports, can vote overseas, a ruling that
excludes most political exiles and refugees.

Meanwhile, some 230 Burmese expatriates living in Japan staged a mock
referendum on Sunday outside the Burmese embassy in Tokyo, criticizing the
draft constitution as a ploy to keep the ruling junta in power.

The Burmese embassy had mailed letters earlier this month to more than
2,000 of its citizens in Japan, inviting them to vote on the proposed
constitution in a two-day advance poll held over the weekend at the
embassy, Japanese police and the foreign ministry said. However, fewer
than 100 people had voted at the embassy as of Sunday afternoon, according
to a count by the protesters.

About 100 Burmese citizens in Malaysia, including political activists,
migrant workers and people from ethnic minorities, gathered in front of
the Burmese embassy on Saturday wearing colorful traditional costumes
displaying the word “No” and demanding the right to vote.

An estimated 500,000 Burmese people are living in Malaysia, about 180,000
of who possess legal documents. No official count for voters was available
from the embassy.

About 100 protesters, including activists, migrant workers, students and
ethnic minority people, gathered outside the Burmese embassy in Bangkok
for about 30 minutes on Sunday.

The demonstrators, organized by the Joint Action Committee for Democracy
in Burma, chanted slogans against the May 10 referendum. A statement from
the umbrella committee for the dozen dissident organizations said the
constitution was drawn up solely by pro-junta groups and would give the
military great powers in any future government.

An estimated 360,000 registered Burmese migrants and 1.2 million
unregistered migrants in Thailand were denied their voting rights.

Meanwhile, about 60 Burmese people in Seoul, the South Korean capital,
gathered outside the Burmese embassy on Sunday to protest against the
junta-written draft constitution, many wearing white shirts bearing the
words “Vote No” and the logo of a cross. According to Yan Naing Htun, a
Seoul-based Burmese activist, the protesters set up two artificial ballot
boxes and urged people to vote “No” in the referendum.

In the United States, sources estimated that up to 100 people participated
in the referendum in New York. It is estimated that the New York's
Permanent Mission of Burma has some 500 registered voters.

The Burmese embassy in Washington, D.C. was the only other place in the US
where Burmese citizens were able to vote in the referendum. Unlike New
York, the voting process in Washington was opened for three days—Friday,
Saturday and Sunday—from April 25 to 27.

Pro-democracy groups who were holding a protest outside the embassy
claimed the turnout was very low. Out of the 1,500 registered voters, a
little more than 150 people are believed to have cast their votes so far,
with one day remaining.

Meanwhile, Kyaw Zaw Wai, a protester in Canada’s capital, Ottawa, said
that more than 100 Burmese citizens from Toronto and Ottawa, including
ethnic Karen, Chin, and Arakanese people, protested against the
constitution for three and half hours in front of the Burmese embassy in
Ottawa.

Several supporters from Tibetan, Indonesian and Vietnamese communities in
Ottawa also joined the demonstration to show their solidarity with the
people of Burma, said Kyaw Zaw Wai.

Kyaw Zaw Wai said, “I believe we delivered a very strong message to the
military regime."

(Lalit K Jha contributed to this article from New York.)

____________________________________

April 28, Irrawaddy
UNSC deadlocked on Burma - Lalit K Jha

The Security Council remains deadlocked on a presidential statement on
Burma even as diplomats of the 15-member UN body met last week for the
second time in a month.

Diplomatic sources told The Irrawaddy that representatives from the
Security Council member nations met on Thursday to discuss the second
draft proposed by three permanent members—the United States, Britain and
France.

A copy of the second draft obtained by The Irrawaddy reflects the urgency
on the part of the three Western powers as time seems to be fast running
out in the run-up to the May 10 referendum on the draft constitution,
which is heavily loaded in favor of the Burmese military junta.

However, it appears that the two staunch supporters of the military
junta—veto-wielding China and Russia—are in no hurry and continue to block
any effort for a discussion or move to get the non-binding presidential
statement passed by the Security Council.

With both groups apparently reluctant to change their respective stands,
diplomatic sources said the next meeting on the US-proposed presidential
statement would be held at the ambassadorial level.

However, it is not clear when the permanent representatives of the
15-member Security Council would be meeting on the issue of Burma.

While there is little change between the two drafts of the presidential
statements except for the replacement of words here and there, the second
draft circulated among the member nations last week urged the Burmese
military government and all parties concerned to co-operate fully with the
United Nations.

Given that the time is running out, the proposed presidential statement
urges the Burmese junta to take on an "urgent basis," instead of a "timely
manner" (as was in the previous draft)," concrete, meaningful steps" that
result in genuine, "substantive" (added this time) dialogue with Aung San
Suu Kyi and all concerned parties and ethnic groups in order to achieve an
inclusive national reconciliation with the direct support of the United
Nations.

Except for these minor amendments, there has not been any change between
the two drafts, which China and Russia have opposed.

Referring to the May 10 referendum, the draft statement calls on the junta
to make the process all inclusive and credible by allowing full
participation of all political actors, including Suu Kyi.

It reminds the Burmese regime of its commitment to have a free and fair
referendum in which all parties will be allowed to participate on equal
terms. The statement stresses that this commitment must be followed by
action, including the guarantee of freedoms of expression, association and
assembly in the political process leading up to the referendum, as well as
independent monitoring of the vote counting.

Last week, the US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, acknowledged
that their efforts to send a strong message to the military junta had not
yet been successful.

Expressing frustration at the Russian and Chinese vetoes, Khalilzad said,
"The Council cannot be silent—should not be silent—in the face of what has
happened and what has not happened."

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

April 26, The Nation (Thailand)
Junta control the only sure outcome in Burmese vote – Khin Maung Win

The Burmese State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) is working hard to
obtain the maximum number of yes votes possible in its constitutional
referendum on May 10.

Political temperatures are rising daily as the SPDC continues pressuring
people to vote yes by arresting and harassing no-vote campaigners.

The militarisation of Burmese politics

Several provisions in the proposed constitution legalise the
militarisation of Burmese politics. It would install a presidential
system, like that of the United States, in which the president is the head
of the executive and the state. Presidential elections in a presidential
system are conducted in a democratic manner.

The SPDC's constitution, however, provides for a most undemocratic
electoral method for president. The criteria for presidential candidates
makes Aung San Suu Kyi and many prominent democracy leaders permanently
ineligible.

The presidential electoral college would comprise three components: the
National Assembly (the upper house), the People's Assembly (the lower
house) and the army, members of which would be sitting in both legislative
houses. Each of these three components would be able to nominate one
candidate each. One of these three candidates would become president, and
the remaining two vice-presidents. This means that the army can appoint at
least a vice-president without going through any screening process. In
addition, the commander-in-chief of the army also enjoys the rank of
vice-president, making a "presidential club" of four - with two members
directly loyal to the army.

The president has the power to appoint cabinet members with a rubber stamp
from the legislature. When it comes to key ministries, including defence
and the interior, the commander-in-chief makes the nominations. Exactly
the same procedure applies to the appointment of chief ministers of
regions and states and other executive bodies.

Artificial federalism - no solution to 60 years of ethnic conflict

A multiethnic state like Burma is suitable for federalism because it
allows greater autonomy for ethnic states. Burma has had 60 years of civil
war in which ethnic groups have been fighting for greater autonomy, which
they argue is possible under a genuine federal system.

In response to unanimous demands from all ethnic groups, the constitution
introduces an artificial federal apparatus. Formal division of power
between the national government and local governments is also provided.

The key concept of federalism is the decentralisation of power by granting
greater autonomy to state governments. The militarisation of politics by
the Burmese army directly contradicts the principles of federalism. The
appointment of entire executive bodies, including chief minister for
regions and states by the union president, also goes totally against
federal principles.

Ethnic states enjoyed a certain level of autonomy under the quasi-federal
constitution of 1947, which was terminated by the military coup in 1962.
The civil war that was triggered in 1948 indicates that the autonomy that
ethnic groups used to enjoy is not sufficient, and raises the question of
how even less autonomy, which is what they would have under the SPDC
constitution, can bring an end to difficulties with ethnic groups.

Gradual change theory will not work

The regime's information minister, Maj-General Kyaw Hsann, has threatened
that rejection of the constitution would result in the continuation of the
current junta's rule for another 20 years. Some argue that endorsing the
constitution and ending current military rule would be a starting point to
break the current political stalemate and work towards gradual change.

The Burmese military never shows respect for the rule of law. It uses its
despotic laws mainly to suppress the opposition and critics and prolong
power. Is there any hope that an SPDC constitution would allow for gradual
change? No.

For ordinary matters, the constitution can be amended when over 75 per
cent of legislative members of both houses approve the amendment. Any
amendment to the charter's so-called "fundamental principles", which
includes provisions for the militarisation of Burmese politics, would
require the support of 50 per cent of eligible voters and the approval of
75 per cent of the legislature. Getting 75-per-cent approval in the
legislature would be impossible when an army bloc would be able to stop
any such move.

A rigid constitutional amendment procedure is normal in most democracies,
but such procedures are applied only when the constitution is the result
of a participatory and democratic process. The SPDC's constitution works
in reverse - the constitution it drafted might be approved by 25 per cent
of eligible voters, and then the proposal to amend it would be so onerous
as to be impossible.

Is the referendum legitimate at all?

Despite arrests and harassment targeting no campaigners and objections
from independent observers, the regime is trying its best to pretend that
the referendum is legitimate. However, the bottom line is that junta
members will not allow a repeat of the 1990 elections when the vote went
against them.

The junta is using a three-pronged strategy to ensure that they win this
time: reducing the number of potential no voters, increasing the number of
yes votes cast at whatever cost, and controlling the vote-counting
process. (The regime has lost control of the media, as most Burmese
receive information from exile sources like the Democratic Voice of
Burma.)

No voting arrangements have been made for the millions of Burmese migrant
workers in Thailand and elsewhere. Analysts agree that they would vote no
if they got a chance. Millions of Burmese in conflict areas along the
border are also in a similar situation. By excluding millions of such
eligible voters, the junta hopes to reduce the potential number of no
votes.

To increase the yes vote, the SPDC is forcing people under their total
control to vote in advance. All armed forces members and security
personals are now required to cast their votes in advance via an envelope.
Procedures for advance voting - which is also happening in many foreign
countries having big legal Burmese communities - allows the SPDC to
determine whether ballots are yes or no as they wish.

The regime knows that they cannot blatantly lie, as they did in the 1974
referendum when they claimed having received 100-per-cent approval. They
need only a narrow margin of valid ballots in their favour to announce
that the constitution has been approved. However, there is no guarantee
they will obtain even that. If that happens, they will steal the votes.
Denying independent observers and choosing to announce the final results
via the Referendum Commission at the capital were both decisions made to
facilitate vote theft. According to regulations, the referendum is
successful if more than 50 per cent of eligible voters cast their vote,
and if 50 per cent of valid ballots are cast in favour of the
constitution. This means that the constitution can be approved by as few
as 25 per cent of eligible voters.

It is clear that the regime will announce that the referendum was a
success. Therefore it would be a strategic mistake for those who oppose
the constitution to boycott the referendum. This would only reduce the
number of no votes.

Voter turnout may not determine whether this referendum is legitimate, but
using a vote-counting procedure that allows the regime to steal votes
would.

Khin Maung Win is the deputy executive director for the Democratic Voice
of Burma.

____________________________________

April 25, Mizzima News
Vote 'Yes' or 'No'?

A reader sent a letter to Mizzima arguing why Burmese should vote 'No' in
the upcoming May 10 referendum on the draft constitution.

Here are the reasons he outlines:

* Amendment of the constitution is rigid, requiring 75 percent of the
legislature to propose any changes and requires all eligible voters to
support the motion in a referendum. This gives a chance to the military to
rule the country forever.

* Provides opportunity for the military to declare a state-of-emergency
anytime it wants. This gives the military enormous power to bypass all the
laws and nullifies the role of civilian government.

* Does not provide for the separation of powers.

* Military commander-in-chief has final say on decisions.

* Military is a state within the state.

* Reserves 25 percent of seats in both houses for the armed forces.

* Drafted by non-elected assembly.

* Requires the President to have a military background.

* Fails to address ethnic interests.

* Undertaken in a spirit of inequality and unfairness with respect to
participating political groups in the national convention.

* Lack of consideration and welcoming of proposals from ethnic groups who
participated in the national convention in the hope that their interests
would be heard.

* No trust in SPDC's [government's] goodwill to the country as it has a
history in power replete with dishonesty.