Nothing 'free and fair' in run up to referendum: Opposition

Maung Dee
Mizzima News
April 10, 2008

New Delhi - Burma's main opposition party – the National League for Democracy – today accused the ruling junta of unfair practices in the run up to the referendum and urged it to allow an international team to monitor the process. The team should include experts from the United Nations.

While the junta has allowed its puppet organizations, including the Union Solidarity and Development Association and other individuals to freely campaign for support of the people, it has imposed various restrictions and used violence on opposition members, the NLD alleged.

"They [junta's puppets] are allowed to campaign through television and are free to distribute pamphlets and other campaign material. But apart from restricting us from doing anything like that, our members are being beaten up," Han Thar Myint, NLD spokesperson, said.

According to Han Thar Myint, in the past few weeks, several NLD members have been assaulted by unidentified people in different areas of Rangoon alone.

The junta, in its referendum law released in February, prohibits people from criticizing or campaigning against the referendum process and imposes a penalty of three years in prison.

The junta, however, has allowed pro-junta activists to distribute pamphlets and to conduct campaigns to support the constitution, Han Thar Myint said.

Junta officials are intimidating villagers by threatening them with a penalty of minimum of three years in prison for those who are found casting 'No' votes in the referendum, sources in Shan state said.

The officials are conducting 'mock elections', where illiterate villagers are shown how to vote 'Yes'.

The NLD, in its statement released today, said by arresting, beating and interrogating members of the opposition groups, the junta has clearly shown that it is not in favour of a 'free and fair' referendum.

"It is necessary that the people of Burma including the ethnic minorities should not be intimidated and coerced into voting and independent monitoring is a must to produce a credible result in the referendum," the NLD said.