Immediate Release
11 May 2008
MORE CHIN PEOPLE VOTED “NO” AMIDST THREATS AND INTIMIDATION
Ottawa, Canada: Amidst widespread coercion and intimidation by military authorities, early poll results obtained by Chin Human Rights Organization from seven polling stations in two townships in Chin State indicates that more than 80 per cent of Chin people voted against the military-backed constitution. This is despite the fact that many votes were thrown off as ineligible or because they were marked “inappropriately.”
More than nine per cent of the total votes in these polling stations were not counted towards the final tally.
But results for government servants who voted early are still not known. In Thantlang town of northern Chin State, more than 300 government employees cast their votes in a specially arranged early polls.
In one particular polling station, 549 out of 673 people voted against the new constitution.
“Based on these early results and what we have seen across polling stations, all indications are that there would be a resounding “no” to the new constitution in Chin State,” says an observer on the ground.
There are also reports of several arrests in connection with the referendum on Saturday. Two youths were arrested in Thantlang over the weekend in suspiscion of distributing leaflets urging citizens to vote “no” in the referendum, but they were released after two days of interrogation in detention. Four other people were also reportedly arrested in Paletwa townships of southern Chin State earlier in the week.
“No matter how the Burmese regime tries to manipulate the result of the votes, these early results suggest that Chin people are not convinced that things will be any better for them under this constitution. It would be of such enormous significance symbolically, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of Chin people rejected it, given that Chins are co-founding members of the Union of Burma,” says Salai Bawi Lian Mang, Executive Director of Chin Human Rights Organization.
The following is the results from six polling stations in Chin State (The exact locations are withheld for security reasons)
Polling Station I
In Favor (114)
Against (410)
Discarded votes (111)
Toral Votes Cast (635)
Polling Station II
In favor (89)
Against (549)
Discarded (35)
Total Votes Cast (673)
Polling Station III
In Favor (101)
Against (368)
Discarded (64)
Total Votes Cast (533)
Polling Station IV
In Favor (65)
Against (512)
Discarded (41)
Total Votes Cast (618)
Polling Station V
In Favor (76)
Against (176)
Discarded (8)
Total vote casts (260)
Polling Station (VI)
In Favor (15)
Against (200)
Discarded (0)
Total Votes Cast (215)
Polling Station (VII)
In Favor (55)
Against (262)
Discarded (29)
Total Votes Cast (317)
For more information contact:
Salai Bawi Lian Mang (CHRO Executive Director)
Email: [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: +1-510-332-0983
Victor Biak Lian (CHRO member of board of Directors)
Email: [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: +66-81-530-0702