Maungdaw:  Readymade "Yes" stamped ballots have been distributed to poor families by authorities in Maungdaw Township in Arakan State in advance for them to cast in the referendum to be held on May 10, said a villager.

"The authorities of Pe Zi Village in ward number one in Maungdaw came to some houses to distribute the readymade "Yes" ballots to people for the referendum," a villager in Maungdaw who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

The ballots have been circled by village council member Shatar Mauk and the distribution was made under instructions of ward one chairman U Maung Tun Myint.

"I heard that five readymade "Yes" ballots were distributed to the U Dilar Marmauk family on Tuesday to cast during the referendum," the villager said.

A member of the family confirmed this, saying the authorities transferred five ballots to them to cast "Yes" votes in the constitutional referendum.

The authorities also told U Dilar Mamauk not to write anything on the ballots, and that they were ready to cast it in the polls on May 10. They were also told that the authorities wrote everything that is needed on the ballot. It has to be just cast into the ballot boxes.

In Pe Zi Village, there are over 1,900 voters, but the authorities have not distributed the readymade "yes" votes to all villagers. They first selected those who would be unable to go against the authorities' wishes, and then distributed the pre-marked "Yes" votes to them.

"U Dilar Mamauk is a boatman and he always needs permission of the village authorities to ferry travellers between Bangladesh and Burma. The authorities know that he cannot go against them and has to cast a "Yes" vote, so they distributed the five readymade ballots to U Dilar Mamauk family," he said.

Another source from Maungdaw also said that most people in the township are illiterate, and the authorities are taking advantage of this to distribute the pre-marked "Yes" ballots in advance.

It was learnt that many village chairmen in the township swore before the Deputy Home Minister Phone Swe when he visited the area last month that their villagers would cast "Yes" votes in the referendum. Because of the promise, the village authorities in Maungdaw Township are now attempting to ensure "Yes" votes by any means.