_ by Victor Khen Sang

Burma (becoming Myanmar in 1993) became independent sovereign nation on January 04, 1948 after being under British Impire for more than a hundred years since 1824. Independent hero General Aung San was assassinated in July 1947 and pious Buddhist man U NU became prime minister on 1948 in multicultural and multiracial country of Burma. His religious prone ideology only created dissent among ethnic nationalities which deadlocked the nation and propeled it to uncertainty. General New Win seized power from U NU in 1962 and declared that Burma will adopt socialist policy and created Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) under Revolutionary Council. Ne Win was not a politician but rather a playboy himself and ruled Burma for 26 years until 1988. The problem started since Ne Win became paranoiac and wanted to change Burma’s monetary notes in which General Aung San’s photos were enshrined and wanted to replace them probably with his photos. He nullified hundred Kyats note of Burma currency in mid 1980s which created great anger among poor civilians. In 1987, university students led demonstrations against BSPP and the protest suddenly spread further into a large uncontrolable furnace in 1988 which led Ne Win to finally step down from power.

However, since Ne Win have no good deputies under him, the nation under emergency rule fell to the hands of Ne Win’s former colleagues like General Sein Lwin (17 days in power), and Dr. Maung Maung; and then General Saw Maung who took power in September 19, 1988_ the latter was the first coup leader of the current military regime. Surprisingly free and fair democratic general elections were held under General Saw Maung in May 28, 1990 in which Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD party swept to landslide victory with more than 80% of the votes. However the result was ignored by military generals and even General Saw Maung was forced to retire. General Than Shwe then took over power from Saw Maung in 1993 and changed Burma to Myanmar and ordered to convene National Convention in 1993 to draft constitution for future Myanmar. General Than Shwe who dared even to order his former mentor Ne Win to house arrest and imprisoned of all his children, descendents and cronies finally also deleted Ne Win’s chapter by destroying General Khin Nyunt and his entire military intelligence agency in October 2004. Suu Kyi is given a space to breath in Myanmar at her house but not a place to do politics among Burmese civilians.

The military regime of Burma (Myanmar) started drafting constitution since 1993 to which National League for Democracy (NLD) refused to participate in the drafting because the drafting was clearly in favour of military dominance in future Myanmar politics and now the military government of Myanmar announces that they will hold National Referendum on May 10, 2008 to force civilians to support their 14 years long drafted constitution. Within 14 years of drafting off-again on-again National Convention under military rulers, the regime established Union Solidarity and Development Association ( USDA ) notoriously known as Kyianhkhanzi in Myanmar to transit themselves as wolf in sheep clothing of civilian government.

According to civilians who are still stuck under the boots of military rulers in Myanmar, the junta declared that every enfranchised citizen will vote in a single ballot (Yes or NO to the Referendum) which will be guarded by only Kyiankhanzi members who will also count the votes after the voting time is over. No observers from UN or Asian nations is allowed to monitor the voting as it is militarily orchestrated referendum. Anyone who is seen or known casting vote “NO” to this referendum must flee from Myanmar before he/she is nabbed as a convicted criminal by military regime. People inside Myanmar are now dumbfounded to how military rulers daringly challenge the public to the ballot. Is this ballot a live bullet?

To protest the referendum and abstain from vote could give victory to the regime as their sponsored civilian militants called USDA and some brainwashed people will vote “YES” to this referendum. The military regime connives with USDA and some MPs who were elected in 1990 General Election to use all tricks and threats to public. Brainwashed MPs seduced their constituents that they must cast “YES” vote to this referendum to end military rule in Myanmar because the Constitution drafted for 14 years will suit best the country. On the other side, USDA persuaded civilians with promise of Ks. 50000 ( US$. 45.00 ) to vote “YES”. the military also used military pensioners and ex-military men in far remote areas to gather all villagers to vote. It is astonishingly unusual how military regime in Myanmar encourage all civilians in Myanmar to cast their votes in this referendum although they are 100% sure that almost all voters will not support military referendum.

One vote, one ballot and one count system in this referendum is a frantic political drama like a free magic show in public roadside. UN Special Envoy Mr. Gambari was regaled as if a crown prince by junta for his first visit after September 2007 monks massacre but smacked him as if unused substitute again in 2008 to mock UN role in military ruled Myanmar. One desperate civilian from Myanmar said that to cast vote in this referendum is like tying to tell a whisper word to a deaf-ear or teaching a blind man to play football in a large stadium because the vote result will only come out from the regime controlled backyard.

However, everyone who dare even march toward live bullets of military rulers in September 2007 is now morally encouraged to challenge this referendum with Vote “NO”. The graveyards of the September 2007 martyrs are still green; human defenders in Myanmar surely outnumbered military rulers in millions; millions of civilians in Myanmar are well aware that they are just stranded refugees inside their own homeland and Myanmar is a state-prison where all innocent civilians are locked inside up by armed guards. In 1960s, General Ne Win seized power with military uniform and changed his uniform after couples of years later but still ruled the nation with iron-fist as ineligible civilian head until 1988. Now the fiercer band of military could not change their military uniforms like Ne Win although they still want to be in power forever in Myanmar. After two decades, the junta in Myanmar seems that they already found a loophole finally to get through this referendum.

But the problem is the junta does not seem to understand that carrying arms in parliament is an indictable serious offence, as 25% of both lower and upper houses of parliament are reserved for automatic military seats; it is not democracy but lunacy of the regime. The paranoiac military leaders who are searching for perpetual dominion in Myanmar politics by using military might are now preparing to play a sham and dogmatic politics. No doubt, the military regime is now already prepared enough to clone NO into YES. The world body must monitor this Referendum in Myanmar on May 10, 2008 to make sure that the military regime in Myanmar are not just building an artificial mirage lake of referendum for millions of freedom-thirsty Burmese people.