Forced advance 'Yes' voting in Bhamo

By Myo Gyi
Mizzima News

Monday, 28 April 2008 - Local authorities of the Burmese junta in Bhamo, Kachin State summoned senior citizens and those who have lost their national ID cards to the Ward Peace and Development Council (PDC) offices and forced them to cast the 'Yes' vote in the constitutional referendum.

The local authorities of Myenu Ward PDC office visited houses of people over 50 years of age on April 27 and invited them to their office. Then they forced them to cast the 'Yes' vote for the referendum.

"Yes, this morning we were called by Ward PDC office Chairman and USDA officials. They called only senior citizens," a local resident who had cast the vote told Mizzima.

There were about 20 people who were called to Myenu Ward PDC office. Because of pressure by PDC office Chairman, all had to cast the 'Yes' vote except a granny who cast 'No' vote.

"All had to cast the 'Yes' vote as the Chairman forced us to do so. Only a granny cast 'No'. And then the Chairman threatened her by saying 'will you take responsibility for this vote' and the granny replied yes and left the office," the resident added.

The authorities issued ballot papers but there were no ballot boxes there. The voters had to tick'Yes'and these ballot papers were collected by the authorities.

Similarly, Daw Ohn who had to cast a vote in advance told Mizzima that Tharzi Ward PDC Chairman U Maung Maung Tar personally visited those who had lost ID cards or had no ID cards on April 24 to come and collect these ID cards. When they reached the office to collect the ID cards, they were issued ballot papers instead and had to cast the 'Yes' vote in advance.

"I applied for the new ID card against my lost card. The Chairman of Tharzi PDC U Maung Maung Tar came and called me to the office at Bulldozer height in eastern Tharzi," she said.

Bulldozer height is in eastern Tharzi ward where bulldozers and other heavy construction machinery are kept.

She elaborated on how she was called to Ward PDC office behind the Timber Corporation complex and had to cast 'Yes' vote.

"Bulldozer Ward PDC Chairman U Brem Taung first told us that all those who have no ID cards or had lost their cards must vote in advance. Then he issued ballot papers to us. When we asked what to do with the papers he asked us to tick only 'Yes' on the paper. Then I had to tick 'Yes'. Then we were issued the temporary ID card in white colour," she added.

There was an old Chinese woman among those who had to cast the 'Yes' vote in advance at the Tharzi ward PDC office.

"There were over 20 people at the PDC office. I don't know how other people voted on that day. But I found a Chinese woman casting her vote by giving her thumb impression and then ticking 'Yes' on the ballot paper," she further said.

The authorities compiled an eligible voters' list in Bhamo for the national referendum since early February by visiting each house. Those who had no ID cards or had lost them had to register with the authorities and some of them were issued temporary cards later.

Besides making the utmost effort to get the 'Yes' vote for the referendum, junta's Post and Telegraph Minister Brig. Gen. Thein Zaw has started his own campaign in Kachin State since the 22nd of this month by intimidating voters, a local resident said. He is also the Secretary of Kachin State 'Union Solidarity and Development Association' (USDA).

"He visited the villages one by one east of Irrawaddy River, such as Pa Pau, Mamaling, Sing Ken, Maing Kar among others. Now he is in villages near Mo Le creek. Then he will proceed to Phakant," this local resident added.

Brig. Gen. Thein Zaw bribed voters with used cloth bales and coerced them to cast 'Yes' vote. He further said that all the votes will be turned to 'Yes' even though voters cast the 'No' vote in the referendum.

Ko Mar Tan from Washaung village said that their village PDC Chairman Sin Wa Naung threatened the villagers also to cast the 'Yes' vote.

"Chairman U Sin Wa Naw intimidated the villagers himself. He said that all 'No' voters will be punished with years in prison and a fine of Kyat 100,000. All the villagers are living in fear," he said.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) issued a statement and pointed out that the constitutional referendum would not be free and fair so they have demand that independent international observers monitor the voting.

Similarly the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon and UN special Rapporteur for Human Rights Mr. Pinheiro also demanded that international observers be allowed to monitor the referendum. But the junta turned down all these requests saying that they had had enough experience and expertise from the 1990 general election so they don't need any outside assistance.