Burmese authorities cheat and threaten to get ‘Yes’ vote Sun 11 May 2008,IMNA
Residents in Mon State were cheated and threatened to mark ‘Yes’ vote for approving the draft constitution yesterday.
According to Mudon resident, Most people were afraid to go to cast No vote because of threats by the authorities and USDA members. They voted the draft constitution for “Yes’ against their will.
She said “the authorities put the box of ‘No’ in inside poll station, but they set ‘Yes’ box just outside, where everybody can see the poll. So people were afraid of entering inside the room where the box of ‘No’ is set.” At the poll station, the security guards were watching the civilians with gun and the government servants are put to monitor the people’s votes.
Mon youth said people in Moulmein (Mawlamyine), the capital of Mon State, the people can vote quit free and without restriction, but the authorities threatened the students from Government Technical College to cast ‘Yes’ vote, if they want to continue their education.
“If you like democracy system, you have to vote ‘Yes’. But you want to stay under Burmese military regime (longer) you vote ‘No’”, said the persons who faced threats from the soldiers of the Burmese army.
According to the man, the village headmen said that they would not take any responsibility for the villagers who vote ‘No’. They must take responsibility by themselves if the Referendum Commission inquires about these.
Villagers in some area like Khaw-za sub Township Mon State were gravely threatened by commanders of Burmese Army from Infantry Battalion No. 31. The commanders said that he did not want to see any NO vote in his controlled area and everyone should cast Yes vote. If they see No vote, the village headmen from Kapyar, Yein-dein, and Yein-ye villages have to pay 100, 000 Kyat as fine for each vote.
Parents were pressured to pay to village headmen about 20,000 Kyat for their families’ member who seeking jobs in foreign countries such as Thailand, Malaysia. The village headmen collected money for the families and will give to IB No. 31.
According to Ye residents, commission holding for referendum ordered to village headmen by getting supporting votes with by going house by house especially to seek Yes vote from older people, patients, mother, and migrant workers, who were not able to go poll station.
“Grandma, you have to vote ‘Yes’ because grandpa had already voted ‘No’” the local commission holding for referendum said to the older women who plan to vote ‘No’. The local commission told them to vote ‘Yes’ during by going house by house.
