Less than three weeks from the referendum meant to approve the draft constitution, a large section of the Burmese population are still in a state of confusion about what they are going to vote for. This despite, the Burmese military junta's vigorous campaign seeking support for its draft constitution.

In a random opinion poll, conducted by Mizzima on the forthcoming referendum, most respondents said they are still undecided about what they would vote in the referendum.

Out of the 226 random telephone calls across major cities in Burma, 24 people said they will not vote in the referendum while 55 people said they have not decided whether to cast their votes.

The survey, which was a part of a larger opinion poll, was conducted across a wide-range of Burmese society including, government employees, street vendors, businessmen and traders, housewives, professionals, members of the armed forces and retired people across Burma.

Of the 147 people who said they will vote, 55.1 per cent or 81 people said they are still confused of what to vote. While 46 people said they will vote in favour of the junta's draft constitution, 20 people said they will reject the constitution by casting a 'No' vote.

Rangoon

Out of the 45 respondents in Rangoon, 26 people or 57.7 per cent said they will vote in the ensuing referendum while 10 persons said they will abstain.

But nine people said they are still confused of whether they should vote or should stay out of the whole process.

Of the total, only one, an officer from the Burmese Navy, said he has read the constitution while the rest said they have not read it and are unaware of the contents.

While six people, all of whom are government employee in various department, said they will vote in favour of the constitution, three people said they will reject the constitution by casting a 'No' vote. Of more than half of those who have decided to vote, 17 people, said they were undecided.

Mandalay

Of the 32 respondents in Burma's second largest city, Mandalay, 68.75 percent or 22 people said they will cast their votes in the May referendum, while 10 people said they have not decided whether to vote or not.

More than half or 59 percent or 13 people out of those who decided to vote said they will continue to keep a watch on the process of the referendum before deciding on what to vote.

Three people – a street vendor, a college student and a company manager – said they will vote in favour of the constitution by voting 'yes', while six others said they will vote 'No' and reject the draft constitution.

But out of the 32 respondents, 22 said they have not read the draft constitution while 10 said they have seen and read it and have a rough understanding of the constitution.

Magwe Division

In a random call to three towns - Magwe, Pakokku and Yenan Chaung - in Magwe division in central Burma, 61.5 percent or 24 people out of the 39 respondents said they will cast their votes in the referendum in May.

But while 12 of the respondents said they have not decided, three people said they prefer to remain away from any of the junta's process.

Of the 24, who have decided to vote, five people said they will support the junta's constitution while another five said they will cast a 'No' vote as they have no idea of the constitution. But the remaining 14 said, they have not made up their minds, and would decide later, though they said they will vote.

Of the 39 respondents, only three said they have had a chance to view the draft constitution, while the rest said they have not seen it.

Pegu Division

Of the 92 random calls made to Pegu, Pyi (Prome), Zegone, and Tharyarwaddy towns in Pegu division, only 30 people responded. The majority of them disconnected the phone, as soon as Mizzima asked about their voting plans in the forthcoming referendum.

Among the 30 respondents, 26 persons or 86 per cent said they will cast their votes in the referendum, and three said they are undecided, but one person said he would remain out of the whole process and that he will not cast a vote.

Eleven people from Pyi, Tharyarwaddy and Zegone towns said, they will vote in favour of the constitution because it is essential that Burma has one, while another eleven said they have not yet decided on whether to vote in support or to reject the constitution.

But four people said, they will cast a 'No' vote rejecting the junta's draft constitution.

"I cannot agree to what I have not seen," said an educated man of the age 50 in Tharyarwaddy town, complaining that the draft constitution has come to their town recently.

Of the 30 respondents in Pegu division, only five said they have read the constitution and have a rough idea of what it is.

Irrawaddy Division

Sixty respondents to Mizzima's calls to Hinzada, Ma Oo Pin, Basein, Ngapuhtaw, Daw Pong, Myuang Mya, and Laputta towns in Burma's delta region of Irrawaddy Division, and 66.6 percent or 40 people said they have made up their minds to cast their votes in the referendum.

While four people said they have no desire to vote, as they are not aware of what has been written in the constitution, 28.3 percent or 17 people said they will watch the process and take a decision later.

Interestingly, while 34 people said they have not seen the draft constitution and are not aware of the content, 26 people, mostly middle class businessmen and government employees, said they have seen the draft constitution and are fairly aware of the contents.

Sagaing Division

Of the 20 respondents from Kalemyo and Monywa towns in Sagaing division nine people said they are ready to cast their votes, while five said they have not made up their minds.

Another six people said, they will remain out of the whole process and will not cast their votes as a boycott of the military regime.

Three people – a retired military personal, a USDA member (junta-backed civilian organization), and an Army Major – in Monywa town said they have no choice but to support the constitution as they serve the junta.

The other six out of the nine, however, said they would like to see the process and hear people talking and then later decide on what to vote.

Of the 20 respondents, while 15 said they have not seen the draft constitution and are not aware of the contents, another five said they have seen the junta's draft constitution.