Tick ’em up or else, say referendum organizers

On 15 March, village headmen in Panghsai, opposite China’s Wanding, were summoned by the deputy township immigration and national registration officer Kyaw Thet Han. Each was handed out a mocked ballot paper with a square in it.
 
“They were instructed to put a tick in the square. The deputy was emphatic that no crosses, designating objection to the draft constitution which none of them have ever come across, were to be entered in it.
 
“Anyone caught putting in a cross or any symbols other than a tick would be liable to a 3 year imprisonment with or without K 100,000 ($90) fine.”
 
Kyaw Thet Han had one of his staffers first give a demonstration of the procedure and started the drill from 09:00-14:00 with a lunch break at 12:00. “It appeared there would be only one ballot box unlike 1973 when they had two, one for votes in favor and the other for votes against,” recounted a source.
 
The headmen were then instructed to organize balloting drills each in his own jurisdiction. “On the day of the referendum, no eligible voters must be allowed to be absent,” the deputy warned his audience in his closing speech. “Not only anyone who fails to appear or vote against will be imprisoned but the headman concerned will be imprisoned also.”
 
Another similar drill was reportedly conducted in Muse, opposite Jiegao on 20 March.
 
Sub-commissions to oversee the referendum, according to the referendum law #1/2008 issued on 26 February, have also been formed at the ward or village-tract formed levels, comprising 5-20 members each. “All of them are handpicked,” said another source.
 
In Namkham, 19 miles southeast of Muse, militia leader Kyaw Myint had reportedly exhorted the local populace to vote in favor of the draft. “We will become fair game for the Army’s harassments including forced relocations if we vote against it,” he was quoted as saying.
 
Burma’s first constitution was ratified by the elected constituent assembly on 24 September 1947. The second was put to a nationwide referendum held 15-31 December 1973, 11 years after the 1962 coup. According to official announcement on 3 January 1974, 90.19% had voted for it. But critics say the 1973 referendum was an “out-and-out rigged” affair.