Many townships forced to support the draft constitution

_{By Hawkeye/ Lieng Lern}
 
At the end of the March 2008, Mongyai Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) Chairman U Nyunt Tin with Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), Army and Policemen held meetings with 3 village tracts, Wanpung, Panghai and Wanpai village tracts.
 
"At the 3 meetings, the villagers were threatened by the local authorities to support the draft constitution. If they [local authorities] find out who is against the draft constitution they will arrest him/ her," said the source.
 
Every participant was forced to promise at the meetings that they would support the draft constitution.
 
Since March 2008 Area Commander Lieutenant Colonel Gyi Myint held several public meetings ordering civil servants and the local populace in Mongyai to support the draft constitution. Any civil servant found to be against the draft constitution would be fired, he said.
 
Since the beginning of this month, every village tract in Mongpiang Township in eastern Shan State has also been threatened by the junta.
 
"The local authorities said that they didn't want to see any vote against. All the votes must be in support of the draft constitution. The immigration officials will then change their temporary cards to permanent cards after the polling".
 
Junta TV announced on 9 April that the referendum would be held on 10 May. Limited copies of the draft constitution have also been made available for public review on the same day.