Cyclone Nargis overshadowed Burma’s referendum on constitution on May 10. International community and media mostly paid attention on the disaster and few of them quoted Burma’s state-run media as reported that there were massive turn out and most of voters cast “yes”. Some 27 millions out of 57 millions population are eligible voters. Many of them such as members of the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA) voted in advance.

However, Burma's democracy dedicated groups reported different views on the referendum. The following is one of such report, obtained from friends inside.

May 10, 2008 Referendum

People of Burma from all over the country, except 47 Townships in Rangoon and Irrawaddy Divisions, were forced to cast their votes in the polling booths today. Voters turn-out is very low and unlike the 1990 elections, most people were not interested in the referendum. They all are devastated by the attack of Cyclone Nargis and want to concentrate their energy to help the cyclone victims, instead of going to the polling booths. In some areas, only 50-60% of the voters turned out and in some areas, there were only 25% of the eligible voters. Most of the polling booths are at schools and Dhamar Yones (public gathering place at wards and village-tracks for religious events).

The military junta used all of its resources, including security forces, police, USDA, Swan Arr Shin, Fire Brigade, Red Cross, Women Affairs Organization, and local authorities, in addition to the member of commission and sub-commission, to maximize the “yes” votes and minimize the “no’ votes. As instructed by the top authorities, these junta’s forces conducted all fraudulent acts to make sure that they win. They have collected so many advanced votes and all of them were “yes”. They also put posters with slogans to support the constitution at the polling booths and openly asked the voters to vote for the constitution. In many areas, polling booths were closed at 1:00-2:00 PM.

NLD CEC and all rank-and-file members of NLD, as well as members of the 88Generation Students, All Burma Monks’ Alliance, All Burma Federation of Student Unions, Generation Wave and many other activists tried to encourage the people to cast a “no’ vote and monitor the pooling booths. NLD CEC U Soe Myint and Joint-Secretary of Rangoon Division NLD Dr. Myo Aung were stopped at a check point when they tried to visit to and observe the polls at Helgu, Taikgyi, and Hmawbi Townships, three of five Townships in Rangoon Division where the voting conducted, and asked to turn back to Rangoon by a Police Commissioner. NLD is collecting information about fraudulent acts conducted by authorities to claim that this referendum is invalid. 

In next two week, on May 24, 2008, 47 Townships in Rangoon and Irrawaddy Divisions will have to vote.

Below are information gathered from various sources inside Burma.

Mandalay Division

Voters turn out was very low and most of them cast a ‘no’ vote decisively.

In some area, people were not allowed to vote. This happened in Ward Nos. 390 and 391, Thabuthmaw West, Maha Aungmye Township.

In Kyauk Pandaung Township, the authorities have already collected advance votes from many families before the referendum day. In some cases, head of a household was asked to vote for all family members and these votes became “yes”.
In Pakkoku Township, where the Saffron Revolution was originated, most of the voters cast a “no” vote decisively. 

In Pyigyi Tagun, about 20 polling booths were run by school teachers and they forced the people to vote for the constitution. In some cases, some people were allowed to vote for the whole family and other peoples.

Irrawaddy Division

In Kyone Pyaw Township, one of the cyclone-hit areas, the authorities made announcement since two days ago with loud speakers that those who cast a “no” vote will be punished with three-year imprisonment and a fine of Kyats 100,000.

In Pathein West, most of the voters voted against the constitution, despite the threats and irregularities by the authorities.

Karen State

In Hpa-an Township, voters couldn’t find ball points or pencils, which were supposed to be inside the secure place at the polling booths, to mark on the ballot paper. As many of them were scared of to ask the authorities to get pencil, they cast a ballot paper without any mark. These votes are expected to become “yes’ votes or “void”.

In some areas, many people found that their names were noted as “voted” when they arrived at polling booths. In Myawaddy, people were to vote in front of security forces, police, USDA and Swan Arr Shin members.

Chin State

In Paletwa Township, 4 democracy activists, namely Kho Take, Hla Tun Aung, Aung Be and Hwe Lan, were arrested by authorities two days ago for distributing of anti-referendum posters and pamphlets.

Bago (Pegu) Division

In Kawa Township, several posters, asking people to vote for the constitution, were posted at all polling booths. Polling Booth Master, staff members of polling booths and sub-commission members asked the people to cast a “yes” vote in front of them.

In Tharyarwaddy Township, all pooling booths were closed at 11:00 AM. The authorities confiscated all IDs of the residents and bank books from villagers before the referendum. They only return them when the people came and voted for the constitution.

In Min Hla Township, polling booths were closed at 2:00 PM, instead of 4:00 PM. Members of sub-commission forced personally to the voters to cast a “yes” vote in many booths. In some polling booths, USDA, Swan Arr Shin, Police, Fire Brigade and Women Affairs Association members welcomed the voters, treated them with food and drinks and asked them to vote for the constitution.

At a polling booth, where 412 people voted, the pooling booth staff invited ten people and three commission members to witness the counting. In the first five minutes of counting, they found 15 votes in favor, 37 votes against and 1 vote void. Then, they stopped counting the remaining votes and asked all to leave. Similar situation happened in other Townships in Bago Division, such as Paung Te, Nattalin, Kyobingauk, Zee Gone, etc. Many people were unable to vote as polling booths were closed early. Many polling booths didn’t provide a secure place to make their mark.

Sagaing Division

In Wan Dwin Township, majority of the voters cast a “no” vote.

In Monywar, 50 % of eligible voters were already voted in advance. The authorities visited all over the Town, asked the people to cast vote in advance in front of them. On the day of referendum, about 35% of the voters shown up and most of them voted against the constitution. NLD members managed to present in some polling booths at the time of counting the votes. In Middle Ward, 290 votes in favor, 491 votes against. In Suu Lay Gone, 260 in favor and 228 against. In Koe Than, 80% of the voters cast negative votes.

Kachin State

In Moe Gaung and Moe Nyin Townships, majority of the voters cast a “no” vote, as many polling booths were in favorable environment without threats and pressure.

In Myitkyina, many polling booths were relatively free and fair and most of the voters voted against the constitution. In some areas, the authorities have distributed ballot paper, which were already marked for “yes” at the front and space to write name, address and ID numbers at the back, one day in advance. They asked people to come to the polling booths on referendum day and cast these ballots in front of them.

Rangoon Division

Referendum was held in five Townships, Hmawbi, Taik Gyi, Hlegu, Mingaladon, and Htauk Gyant, which were also attacked by the Cyclone Nargis but with minor damages. As people are concentrating to rebuild their buildings and help others, many people didn’t go to polling booths. As Hmawbi and Mingaladon are homes of several military battalions, family members of soldiers were asked to vote in advance since last week. Some voter also found that their names were marked as “voted”, when they went to the polling booths.

There were also no secure places to mark their vote at the polling booths. In Hmawbi, staff members of the polling booths helped the elders and people without knowledge to cast a “yes” vote. Many people were asked to make a “yes’ mark in front of them. The authorities also made announcement shouting with loudspeakers at night, asking people to cast a ‘yes’ vote.

In Hlegu, there were 124,300 eligible voters. However, only 30-40% of them came to vote and most of them voted against the constitution.

Although these Townships were hit by Cyclone Nargis, they don’t receive assistance from anyone.

Arakan (Rakhine) State

In Toung Goke Township, people were forced to move away when the time of counting the votes. Pooling booth staffers said it was ordered from the top. Police Commissioner Win Aung Yi shouted at the people, who wanted to witness the vote counting, to move away and he said they would be arrested otherwise.

Magwe Division

In Yenan Chaung, most of the voters voted against the constitution, despite threat and irregularities.

In Salin Township, three NLD members, namely Aung Soe, Win Shwe and Thein Lwin, were arrested on May 8, 2008 by authorities, while they were distributing the statements issued by the NLD.