Government staffs forced to sign pledge to cooperate on referendum

IMNA

18 Apr 2008 - Departmental officers of the Burmese government have been made to sign a pledge that they will work in coordination with the referendum commission to campaign to the people to cast the ‘Yes' vote.

A school administrator in Mon State, "We had to sign that we are going to cooperate and help them in the coming referendum". All staff members of schools and other departments were forced to sign.

"We will help out the commission in the polling booths and the referendum process in May", she said. Their signatures will be submitted to the top authorities.

Departmental offices in Mon State were forced to sign by their relevant ministry from the end of March.

To get the 'Yes' vote, the Burmese regime has not closed government offices for civilian staff members during the water festival even though it had declared closure during the festival.

After the Burmese regime ordered the closure for the duration of the water festival, the Township department officers were reordered not to close the office and stand by at the office by their concerned ministry.

According to some civilian department officers, the officers have to take the responsibility of explaining to their staff members about the new constitution.

"It was a mix up. We can't do our job well due to such contradictory orders," the school administrator said.