Junta called 'inhuman' for planning poll in wake of disaster

By Mungpi
Mizzima News

New Delhi – Critics blasted Burma's military regime for going ahead with plans to conduct a referendum on the country's draft constitution amidst the devastation and mourning of Cyclone Nargis.

"It is senseless to conduct a referendum while people are filled with sorrow and worries," said Nyo Ohn Myint, the foreign affairs in-charge of the exiled National League for Democracy (Liberated Area).

Monday, 05 May 2008 - Calling the decision "inhuman," Nyo Ohn Myint said the ruling generals have no sympathy for the people, who are now struggling to re-build homes and finding ways to survive.

He added that the junta appears to be taking advantage of the survivors' inability to focus on the referendum, slated for Saturday.

According to the junta's referendum law announced in February, the constitution will be approved if more than 50 percent of those who cast votes say "yes."

"So, the fewer the voters, the better the chance to win in the referendum," said Nyo Ohn Myint said, explaining that the junta had already mobilised its supporters.

In a statement carried by the official newspaper, Burma's military junta, which has ruled the country for nearly two decades, on Monday indicated that the impact of the cyclone would not alter the date for the nationwide vote.

"The referendum is only a few days away and the people are eagerly looking forward to voting," the junta said.

According to state-owned media, nearly 4,000 people were killed by Cyclone Nagris, which swept through Burma over the weekend. Many more were left injured and homeless, and the death toll was expected to rise.

In Rangoon, Burma's former capital city, reports said roads remained blocked by trees, electric poles were uprooted, and electricity and telephone lines remained cut-off. Internet connections were reportedly severed by the storm.

Following the cyclone, commodities skyrocketed. The price of one egg, which earlier cost 60 to 70 kyat, rose to 400 kyat while a liter of clean water shot up to 4,000 kyat from what was normally 700 to 800 kyat.

Pictures posted on several news agencies' websites showed people busy cleaning up debris and re-building their homes. Five regions of Burma were declared disaster zones: Rangoon, Pegu, Irrawaddy division, and Mon and Karen states.

Tanet Charoenmuang, professor in the Department of Political Science at Chiang Mai University, said the Burmese junta, like every other authoritarian government, does not want to delay the process of the referendum, as it is the only way to legitimize their rule.

"The Burmese military junta already knows the outcome of the referendum and just want to go ahead as fast as they could without any delays," Tanet added.

Win Min, a Burmese analyst in Thailand, however, said the junta is being insensitive.

"If they just postpone the dates for the referendum and engage in relief works, they are more likely to gain the peoples' appreciation," he said.

Win Min said Senior General Than Shwe, who is superstitious like other military dictators of Burma, is being stubborn in postponing the referendum as he has already chosen the date after consulting with astrologers.

"How can people think of going to the poll booths and casting their votes while their homes and lives are devastated? It could even provoke the people's anger," Win Min added.

Cases of postponing elections

Many precedents exist for postponing elections after natural disasters.

In 2007, Jamaica delayed a general election by a week when a deadly hurricane lashed the country.

After the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami, the Maldives government postponed a parliamentary election for three weeks. And local elections were delayed in the U.S. states of Alabama and Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Relief first

In order for the junta to go ahead with its referendum, it must ensure that people in the disaster-impacted regions get relief first, said Human Rights Watch (HRW).

David Scott Mathieson, Burma Consultant of the HRW said, "The government must first help clean the devastation and mess and help the people who are starving."

"The government has to show responsibility. There must be a kind of mechanism in place so that these people can cast their votes," he added.

Nyo Ohn Myint said he and his NLD-LA party have asked the NLD to stop any kind of political activities but to concentrate on relief work.

"There is nothing more important that relief work at this moment," said Nyo Ohn Myint. "There is no point in conducting any kind of political activities when people are dying, starving and are homeless."