Junta propaganda continues for next referendum

Nem Davies

13 May 2008 (Mizzima)- State-owned media has continuously aired propaganda for the upcoming constitutional referendum in cyclone-hit regions of Burma.

Myanmar Radio and Television has been broadcasting propaganda songs aimed at the 4 million eligible voters in Rangoon Township.

Most of the country has already voted, on May 10, except for voters in 47 townships in Rangoon and Irrawaddy division hit hard by Cyclone Nargis. Those voters will be able to cast their ballots on May 24.

"Every night, junta propaganda songs are released by government television from artists Kaing Zar and Nann Suu Yathi Soe," said an editor of a Rangoon-based magazine. "They said to vote 'yes' for the referendum."

A Rangoon resident said, "We do not watch Myanmar television at home anymore because there is nothing interesting to watch. Instead, we watch DVDs and Burmese movies."

Before the May 10 vote, the junta forced state-run newspapers and private weekly journals to run slogans urging the public to support the regime's draft constitution. The slogans said it was voters' "national responsibility" to approve the charter, which guarantees the military a quarter of all legislative seats in a nominally civilian government.

But the junta has not required print media to run referendum propaganda since May 10.

"They might be keeping quiet this time to avoid criticism from the public and the international community," said the editor.

Tuesday's New Light of Myanmar, the government-run daily, shows pictures of foreign donations, such as the arrival of a US military C-130 aircraft, and local companies donating money to cyclone survivors.

The New Light reported that 31,938 people were killed by the deadly cyclone and 1,403 were injured. In addition, 29,770 were reportedly missing. But the UN and independent aid agencies said the death toll could top 100,000 and that many more face disease and hardships.