Junta desperate to have constitution approved: MNDF leader

Junta desperate to have constitution approved: MNDF leader
by -
IMNA
The Burmese military junta is desperate to have the draft constitution approved at any cost even though people by and large do not want to accept it, said a leader of the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF).
The Burmese military junta is desperate to have the draft constitution approved at any cost even though people by and large do not want to accept it, said a leader of the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF).

"The military government plans are to have the draft constitution approved at any cost. Except for campaigning among people to cast the 'No' vote we don't have any other way to fight back," the Vice-chairman of the MNDF, Nai Ngwe Thein said.

"I can't say what we should do. But we have to wait until the result of the referendum is announced," he added.

The military government owned MRTV almost everyday reports on how to vote for the ensuing referendum on May 10, 2008.

A group of Mon politicians from Mon state said the way the MRTV is going about it, it does not seem like a secret ballot and people dare not vote the way they want to. They are forcing people to cast the "Yes" vote.

Meanwhile, the Burmese junta has ordered each government staff to sign a pledge for voting "Yes" and told them to cooperate with the Referendum Holding Commission in campaigning for the "Yes" vote.

Mon state military regime authorities have also ordered local people and rural people to vote "Yes" and said that it would take action against people who do not come to vote and vote "No".

However activists in Mon State and opposition groups are distributing fliers that say "Vote No" and are explaining to people the reason for casting the "No" vote.

Some fliers say voting "Yes" would mean wanting the junta to rule the country with the support of the people.