_ by Jimmy

The military junta announced that the referendum for the new constitution will be held at 10th May 2008. The question now is whether one should vote “yes” or “no” or not voting at all.

This referendum is written to keep the military top generals to become the legitimate supreme authority of Burma. It took 14 years to write this constitution mainly due to finding ways to legalize their illegal power control of the country.

Looking back since 1962 after the military coup Burma, the richest and most resourceful country in the south East Asia, become one of the poorest countries in the world.

People are leaving the country in droves to escape the poor conditions of the country and the torture and suppression of the Generals. Many have vanished or have to live in slave-like conditions in other countries. People who are left behind are denied to have justice, proper education and health care. They are living under the cloud of military or police state. Many were killed or imprisoned for their conscience.

The Generals themselves are exploiting their ruling position and take all the top jobs of all professions and trade without qualifications. They live in most luxurious houses and best spots in the country and towns. They have several expensive cars. These are achieved by taking bribes and selling the country’s valuable assets. They will have free expensive medical care overseas while ordinary people can not have even the basic medical care.

There is no justice in the country. The law is created by the Generals and interpretation of the law is done by the Generals day by day.

Despite earning millions and billions of dollars selling the natural resources, there is not much improvement in infrastructure of the country. The local residents have to pay for the maintenance of their local roads. Still there is no electricity at most of the country. Even in cities there are electricity cuts which are frequent and unpredictable.

Education is hopeless. Many rich kids including the Generals’ ones do not value the education they receive and want to go abroad if possible.

Farmers are forced to cultivate and produce what the Generals want and are forced to sell the products to them at very low prices. Many people are living for mere survival conditions.

Now the Generals have written the constitution. It will give them 110 seats out of 440 seats in the parliament automatically. This constitution needs only more than 50% to approve it. To mend it will need 75% or 100%.

There must not be any discussion or public display against the constitution before the referendum. But, there will be no limit on organizing the support for the constitution. People and civil servants and students are forced to show of approval in the support rallies.

There will not be any neutral or international observers. The voting count will not be displayed locally or at the polling stations after the count.

Vote riggings can be done at will.

Our country women and men know what to vote for; the answer is definitely “No”. Still “No” will become “Yes” magically.