February 12, 2008, (Nasdaq-RTTNews) - A prominent human rights watchdog has called upon Myanmar to end its repression of pro-democracy activists and allow a public debate - that should include members of opposition political parties and ethnic minority groups - on a proposed constitution before holding a referendum in May.
The referendum on a new constitution "should be conducted in an atmosphere of freedom and respect for basic rights, and not as a hollow exercise in the military's sham political reform process," Human Rights Watch said Tuesday in a statement.
The statement further says that a full and free public debate that entails freedom for the media to report and discuss the draft, as well as freedom of expression, association, and assembly for citizens to meet, debate, and criticize the draft, will also be necessary.
Additionally, it says to be free and fair, the referendum must be administered by a neutral election commission.
The US-based rights group's calls to Myanmar's military came after the later announced Saturday it would hold a referendum in May to set the stage for elections in 2010.
The human rights watchdog said the May referendum lacks credibility due to the absence of open dialogue between the government and opposition groups, most of whose leaders are in jail.
The group's Asia director, Brad Adams said: "The question is whether Myanmar's military government is willing to change course by allowing public debate and transparent voting in this referendum."
"In light of its massive crackdown on protests last year, there are no signs that the government believes in openness or debate," he said.
The elections if held as proposed, it would be the first time since 1990 that the democratic process gets under way in the impoverished country. In the 1990 elections democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party, the National League for Democracy or NLD swept to victory, but the military to refuse to accept the result.
The military junta's announcement of the referendum came amidst increasing international pressure on the regime following its bloody crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy protestors in September 2007, which left at least 31 people dead and 74 missing, according to the United Nations.
Human Rights Watch said last month about 100 people died during the September protests, against the 15 deaths reported by the junta.
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