Aussie FM says it is a flawed referendum

_{By Sai Awn Tai}

The call came after the Burmese democratic groups in Australia sent letters to Mr Smith urging him to approach the SPDC’s representatives in Australia to conduct free and fair voting for the Burmese citizens in Australia.

The conducted voting at Burmese embassy in Canberra does not reflect on the will of Burmese people. It is a regrettable process and it does not signal any intention by the Burmese regime to listen to the will of the Burmese people on their future, said its statement today.

The constitution was drafted without including opposition groups such as NLD and Burma’s ethnic minorities. Therefore it is a flawed constitution whose sole purpose is to prolong the military’s power.

_{FM Stephen Smith}

“I fully understand the frustration of the Burmese community in Australia at the failings in current processes, including the frustration of those Burmese community members living outside of Canberra”, said Mr Smith.

But the Burma Campaign Australia group is not satisfied with Mr Smith’s media release. The BCA has not received any responses from the government.

“We have requested the Australian government to offer the services of the Australian Electoral Commission to the Burmese embassy to make voting available across Australia and to help facilitate a free, fair and accessible referendum for all eligible voters based in Australia. But we have not received a response to this request until today” said, Jessica Krummel the spokesperson of Burma Campaign Australia.

“I would like to ask, will the government be doing this as a matter of urgency prior to the referendum on 10 May in Burma? So that all those in Australia are able to participate in a true democratic process”, Jessica questions the Australian government.

But the spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who requested to remain anonymous said that the Australian Electoral Commission involvement in such a deeply flawed process would not be appropriate.

“Burma's constitutional referendum is deeply flawed, as is the 'Roadmap to Democracy', of which the referendum forms a part.  The Burmese regime has demonstrated it has no intention to listen to the will of the Burmese people on their future.  Nor has the regime expressed any interest in international assistance to improve the referendum process”, she said.

On April 29, a group of Burma democratic activists handed out leaflets to voters at Burmese embassy in Canberra, to oppose the Burma’s referendum and urging the Burmese voter to say “No”. “Only 12 people came to vote on that day. They said they will vote “No”. They took our handout leaflets”, said Min Thet Naing.

The Burmese embassy extended another day until 30 April for voting but most Burmese citizens outside Canberra did not vote due to difficulty to travel to Canberra as Australia is a large country.