Some civilians in Muse, northern Shan State, wept on hearing the results of the junta drafted referendum which was held on May 10, according to local sources.
While holding the referendum, authorities had placed many soldiers around the polling stations. The soldiers were in plain clothes with guns under their rain coats and watched people voting from a convenient distance. Among the referendum commissioners were officials from the Special Bureau, Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), and Civil Services.
"People were afraid of the military's threats and punishments. Most of them are illiterate and lack human rights awareness. Moreover, they were not interested in the junta drafted charter because of the need to struggle for their livelihood. That's why the junta got a lot of support," said a civilian in Muse.
"Another reason they (authorities) got many 'Yes' votes was because of support from those temporary ID card holders. Before the referendum, the junta had made temporary ID cards for Chinese citizens to support their drafted charter," a villager said.
"Some people cried when they knew that there were many 'Yes' votes on the referendum. We just have to continue being their slaves forever," he added.
According to the report of the referendum commission, the junta garnered 72 per cent of 'Yes' votes in Muse not including surrounding areas and 22 per cent 'No' votes. In contrast, there were 17,617 (66.2 pr cent ) No votes, 8,030 (30.2 per cent) 'Yes' votes and 951(3.6 per cent) invalid votes from 18 polling stations in Namkham township.
On May 14, Kutkhai Military Commander San Shwe Tha along with Hopang based Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 143, Commander Lt-Col Aung Myo visited Namkham to conduct investigations on 'No' votes, according to a source.
LIB 143 will set up a camp in Kunhai village tract, north of Namkham, for security, according to a villager.
The junta's media announced yesterday that 99 per cent of eligible voters turned up for the referendum and 92.4 per cent had voted in support of the draft.
