Burmese embassy in Singapore to conduct absentee voting

Mizzima News
April 19, 2008

New Delhi – The Burmese embassy in Singapore has announced that it will hold absentee referendum voting at the end of April, and has reportedly sent out notices to Burmese citizens to come to the embassy premises to cast their votes.

In a letter sent to Burmese citizens, the embassy said it will hold absentee referendum voting from April 25 to 29. The letter, which is dated April 10, was signed by Kyaw Swe Tint, Consul of the Burmese embassy in Singapore.

The letter, a copy of which is with Mizzima, said Burmese citizens must bring copies of their passports or proof of identity. Reports said Singapore hosts at least 40,000 Burmese citizens with legal documents.

Meanwhile, the Singapore based Patriotic Exile Burmese Organisation, has urged Burmese citizens to cast the "No" vote as a protest against the current military rulers.

The group said, it has begun explaining to people the articles in the junta's draft constitution and urged them to reject it by voting "No'.

However, the group expressed concern over rumours that voters going to the embassy to vote will be asked to write down their passport number and national identity card numbers, which will help authorities identify voters.

"Vote rigging is almost certain even if we cast the 'No' vote. And some are afraid of casting the 'No' vote in the referendum after hearing the rumours that their passport number and National ID number will be noted down on the ballot paper. So they are undecided about going to the embassy for casting their votes. But we explained to them and many are convinced," Ko Kyaw Soe from the Patriotic Exile Burmese organization said.

A Burmese in Singapore said that the draft constitution has not yet been distributed in Singapore and inviting them to cast votes in the referendum is nothing but cheating them by forcing them to cast votes without studying the draft and knowing about the pros and cons of giving their consent to this draft.

"The constitution is an important document which must guarantee fundamental civic rights and human rights. It is not fair to cast votes in a referendum without studying the draft. So we have no other choice, but to cast 'No' votes in this referendum," he added.

The Patriotic Exile Burmese Organization said it will urge voters, authorities of Singapore, foreign embassies in Singapore, media groups and Burmese monks to monitor the voting at the embassy and call for counting of the votes on the same day and monitor the result.

"There are about 40,000 Burmese in Singapore. It will be ok if 35,000 cast 'No' votes and the remaining 5,000 cast 'Yes' votes on that day. This news will spread to Burma and influence the voting in Burma," Kyaw Soe said.

Similarly, Burmese citizens in Japan, US, UK, and Australia have been notified by the Burmese embassy for the dates of absentee referendum voting. However, the actual dates could not be confirmed as yet.