Myanmar nationals have three-day extension to vote on constitution

Singapore - Myanmar nationals living in Singapore have until Friday to vote on their country's draft constitution drawn up by the military regime, a notice at the embassy said. Voting started Friday and was originally scheduled to end Tuesday. The notice of the three-day extension was posted on the embassy gates.

Nearly 2,000 people showed up to vote Sunday, many wearing red T- shirts and baseball caps emblazoned with "No." Fewer than 100 got to vote.

The embassy refused to allow anyone wearing the shirts or caps inside.

The three-day extension was heartening to those who have repeatedly but unsuccessfully tried to vote.

"This is the kind of flexible approach that we want the embassy to take," Moe Kyaw Thu, a 30-year-old administrative executive, told The Straits Times.

Despite three previous failed attempts, he vowed: "I'll try again."

Other Myanmar nationals said they were denied entrance to the embassy because they did not have an invitation or were not on a list, but had brought their passports.

Voting is being held in Singapore as well as Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan ahead of a referendum on May 10, Myanmar's first in 18 years.

Myanmar's military leaders say the new constitution will pave the way for democratic elections in 2010, but pro-democracy groups and analysts maintain it simply gives more power to the junta.

Most queried said they will vote no.

"It will only benefit the military, not the people," said Ja Naw, 32, an engineer.

The Myanmar community in Singapore numbers about 50,000 people.

Police have been standing guard outside the embassy, and there have been no disturbances. Outdoor demonstrations are prohibited in Singapore without a police permit.

International condemnation of Myanmar's regime has mounted since soldiers were deployed in September to violently end anti-government protests.

Source: Earth Times