BURMA'S MILITARY PIRATE ANNOUNCE ITS COMMISSION FOR REFERENDUM AND THREAT THE WHOLE NATION. SO WE HAVE TO WATCH FOR MORE ARRESTS AND TORTURES OUR CIVILIANS IN FUTURE.
Burma's military government has enacted a new law threatening stiff punishment for anybody who disturbs the smooth procedure of the planned May referendum on a draft constitution for the country. It also bars monks and nuns from voting.
The state-controlled press reported that the new legislation, announced on Tuesday evening, provides for penalties of up to three years imprisonment and 100,000 kyat (US $77) for offenders who distribute statements and posters or who make speeches against the referendum.
The law, signed by junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe, was printed, in the Burmese language, in Wednesday's edition of the state-run Myanma Alin newspaper.The paper said the law's objectives were to cover such matters as the preparation of electoral rolls, vote counting and postponement and cancellation of voting. The referendum plan has been faulted by its critics for failing to be “inclusive” of all shades of political opinion. Those excluded from voting include monks, nuns, high-ranking Christian and Hindu officials, the mentally ill, people living in exile, convicted felons and foreigners.The military regime announced on February 9 that it would hold a referendum on its drafted constitution in May and elections in 2010. The law has 12 chapters and also provides for the formation of a 45-member commission to convene and oversee the voting. Myanma Alin said the commission would include representatives of the ethnic minorities and legal experts.At least 10 eligible voters will count the ballots with one commission member. The law doesn’t provide for independent observers.The chairman of the commission is Aung Toe, Burma’s Supreme Court chief justice, and the secretary is Win Ko, managing director of the office of the commission for the election. “Most of the members are civil servants and retired officials, including San Lwin, who graduated from the Defense Service Academy,” said one Rangoon observer.Speaking to The Irrawaddy from his hiding place, Lin Htet Naing, a leader of the All Burma Federation of Students’ Unions, said: “We need an international agency to monitor the referendum. If the agencies are not in Burma for the referendum, the junta’s puppet commission will try to perpetuate army control.” Thakin Chan Tun, a veteran politician and former Burmese ambassador to China, said: “Most people inside Burma are not interested in the coming referendum.”Soe Tun, one of the leaders of the 88 Generation Students group, told The Irrawaddy: “We don’t agree to any result coming out from the referendum.”Soe Tun said it was even forbidden to debate the draft constitution. “Our country has no law, they [the junta] enact what they like.” “If the authorities force people to go to the polling stations, we call on them to vote ‘No’,” Soe Tun told The Irrawaddy.
Burma's military government has enacted a new law threatening stiff punishment for anybody who disturbs the smooth procedure of the planned May referendum on a draft constitution for the country. It also bars monks and nuns from voting.
The state-controlled press reported that the new legislation, announced on Tuesday evening, provides for penalties of up to three years imprisonment and 100,000 kyat (US $77) for offenders who distribute statements and posters or who make speeches against the referendum.
The law, signed by junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe, was printed, in the Burmese language, in Wednesday's edition of the state-run Myanma Alin newspaper.The paper said the law's objectives were to cover such matters as the preparation of electoral rolls, vote counting and postponement and cancellation of voting. The referendum plan has been faulted by its critics for failing to be “inclusive” of all shades of political opinion. Those excluded from voting include monks, nuns, high-ranking Christian and Hindu officials, the mentally ill, people living in exile, convicted felons and foreigners.The military regime announced on February 9 that it would hold a referendum on its drafted constitution in May and elections in 2010. The law has 12 chapters and also provides for the formation of a 45-member commission to convene and oversee the voting. Myanma Alin said the commission would include representatives of the ethnic minorities and legal experts.At least 10 eligible voters will count the ballots with one commission member. The law doesn’t provide for independent observers.The chairman of the commission is Aung Toe, Burma’s Supreme Court chief justice, and the secretary is Win Ko, managing director of the office of the commission for the election. “Most of the members are civil servants and retired officials, including San Lwin, who graduated from the Defense Service Academy,” said one Rangoon observer.Speaking to The Irrawaddy from his hiding place, Lin Htet Naing, a leader of the All Burma Federation of Students’ Unions, said: “We need an international agency to monitor the referendum. If the agencies are not in Burma for the referendum, the junta’s puppet commission will try to perpetuate army control.” Thakin Chan Tun, a veteran politician and former Burmese ambassador to China, said: “Most people inside Burma are not interested in the coming referendum.”Soe Tun, one of the leaders of the 88 Generation Students group, told The Irrawaddy: “We don’t agree to any result coming out from the referendum.”Soe Tun said it was even forbidden to debate the draft constitution. “Our country has no law, they [the junta] enact what they like.” “If the authorities force people to go to the polling stations, we call on them to vote ‘No’,” Soe Tun told The Irrawaddy.
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