Ceasefire Groups Asked to Provide Referendum Security

Burmese police officers pass under a billboard with slogans urging the public to approve the draft constitution in the upcoming referendum, to be held on May 10, in the downtown area of Burma's largest city Rangoon. The writing on the billboard reads 'Let us all—who are equipped with ardent patriotism, who cherish genuine independence, who aspire perpetuation of sovereignty, who loathe foreign interference and manipulations, and who oppose puppet government with strings of colonialists, VOTE 'YES' for ratification of the Constitution.' (Photo: AP)

By SAW YAN NAING and LAWI WENG
The Irrawaddy News

Several ethnic ceasefire groups were recently asked by Burmese military authorities to provide security during the constitutional referendum on May 10, said sources close to the groups.

The ceasefire groups involved include the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), the Karen Peace Front (KPF) and the Pa-O National Organization (PNO).

According to sources, their participation was requested by officers of the military government’s Referendum Commission last week at a meeting held in Three Pagodas Pass on the Thai-Burmese border.

Commission officers informed each party’s officials that they should provide security for referendum staff and ballot boxes to their respective areas and to provide security during the voting process at polling stations. It is unclear whether government officials expect to accompany the ballot boxes into ceasefire areas due to security concerns.

However, sources said that many members of the ceasefire groups are reluctant to help the regime monitor the referendum.

“This is the Burmese government’s job. It isn’t ours. Why should we be responsible?” said an official of NMSP, who asked to remain anonymous.

According to a survey conducted by The Irrawaddy last week, many Mon people are not interested in or are indifferent about the referendum. A cafe owner in Wai Zin village in Mon State said that many people in his area will not be going to the polling stations.

However, NMSP party officials say that they will allow polling boxes to be brought into their area.

The ceasefire groups seem to have little choice, and one official who attended the meeting reports that the Burmese officials would tolerate no refusals.

Meanwhile, members of the DKBA were also asked to monitor ballot boxes, provide security and lobby locals to vote “Yes” to the draft constitution, according to a DKBA source in Myawaddy.

He said, “The Burmese authorities asked DKBA members to take care of the voting processes in all the areas they controlled. Local people were asked to vote ‘Yes’ too. The authorities said that if the public votes ‘No’ it will take another 20 years for change to come to Burma.”

DKBA members were asked to take care of monitoring the referendum in areas under their control in Karen state, including Pa-an District, Kawkareik Township, Myawaddy Township and Shwe Koko Village, said the source. He also said that security and patrols had already been organized by DKBA soldiers along the Thai-Burmese border.

He added that villagers with little knowledge about the national referendum would likely do as the authorities told them and vote “Yes.”

Another ceasefire group, the Pa-O National Organization, or PNO, was similarly ordered to monitor the voting process in areas under their control.

Speaking to The Irrawaddy by phone on Tuesday, a source said, “Two days ago, PNO members were ordered to set up ballot boxes in their areas and monitor the voting.”

The PNO signed a ceasefire agreement with the military government o¬n April 11, 1991. The group controls Special Region-6, in southern Shan State in eastern Burma.

Meanwhile, the ethnic Wa ceasefire group, the United Wa State Army (UWSA), has allowed the military regime to set up polling stations in their region, including the capital, Panghsang, according to a report by Thailand-based Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN).

Wa officials, however, are not really interested in participating in the constitutional referendum, said sources close to the group.

A Wa official was quoted by SHAN as saying, “We are not telling the Wa people whether to support or oppose the draft constitution. It is entirely their choice.”

Aung Kyaw Zaw, a Burmese political analyst on the China-Burma border said, “Wa leaders haven’t yet decided to what extent they will be involved in the referendum.

The Burmese authorities dare not to force UWSA to participate in the referendum, because tension between the Wa and the junta remains high because of previous incidents.”

He also said that members of another ethnic ceasefire group, the Kachin Independence Organization, or KIO, would most likely not be involved in the referendum process.

The KIO is the largest armed Kachin group and is based in Laiza o¬n the China-Burma border. The group signed a ceasefire agreement with the junta in February 1994.

Similarly, members of National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS), better known as the “Mongla” group, will boycott the constitutional referendum, while members of the Kokang Army have not decided yet whether they will vote or not, said Aung Kyaw Zaw.

Since early March, Burmese authorities have been issuing temporary citizen cards to families of members of certain ceasefire groups, including the KIO, UWSA, DKBA and NMSP. A temporary citizen card allows a citizen to vote in next month’s national referendum.

Meanwhile, a statement is due to be released tomorrow by leaders from 12 ethnic political parties in Burma, urging its supporters to cast a “No” vote in the national referendum.

Rangoon-based Cin Sian Thang, chairman of Zomi National Congress, said, “The regime knows that people don’t like their constitution. And if the people who don’t like the constitution don’t participate in the referendum, the junta will win and legitimize their constitution,” said Cin Sian Thang.

“If the constitution is approved, the situation in Burma will get worse,” he added. “Therefore, instead of boycotting, it’s important that people participate. I urge everyone to vote “No” in the referendum.”