For Immediate Release
15 May 2008
Update: Threat, Intimidation and Manipulation Shroud Burma’s Referendum
Ottawa, Canada: New reliable information received by Chin Human Rights Organization has revealed that voting in last weekend’s constitutional referendum was fraught with threat, intimidation and manipulations by the authorities. But early results from four Townships in Chin State and Sagaing Division indicate that despite the military regime’s campaign of threat and intimidation, an overwhelming majority of Chin voters rejected the military-backed constitution. The results were obtained through local observers and workers who counted the votes at polling stations, but who could not be named for security reasons.
Chin Human Rights Organization has received several reports of voting irregularities and tactics of manipulations by the authorities during and prior to May 10. All government employees were asked to vote in mandatory early polls or by mail-in voting before the actual voting date. These early voters are required to put in their names and national registration number on the ballot. There are reports of threats of employment termination and revocation of family registration for those found to have voted ‘No.’ In Kalay Township of Sagaing Division, where there is a significant Chin population, local officials were reported to have visited residences beforehand and asked people to fill in the ballot on-site along with their names and national registration number.
“Of course people are naturally intimidated when they had to vote right in front of the officials. Many people might have actually voted for it under that circumstance,” says an observer who cannot be named for his safety.
In some polling stations, poll workers are clothed in white T-Shirts that have “Let’s Vote Yes” written on them in Burmese with illustration of a checked box. Elderly voters and people who cannot read Burmese are greeted by these workers and explained to them what they should do by pointing to the writings on their T-Shirts.
One poll worker admitted to having to recount the votes and flipping the result after his superiors and local officials received harsh rebuke from higher authorities when the first count came out with a resounding “No.”
In another polling station, some members of local Peace and Development Council were seen trying to force people to vote “yes” inside the polling booth.
“These reports only show how flawed the whole voting process is and how far the SPDC is willing to go to skew and manipulate the results in its favor,” says Salai Bawi Lian Mang, Executive Director of Chin Human Rights Organization.
SPDC’s Pre-Referendum Campaign Efforts
Since the beginning of April the military regime has launched an aggressive campaign to persuade voters in Chin State to approve its draft constitution. On April 4, Naypyidaw sent Major General Thura Aung Ko, Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs to Chin State where he urged Chin voters to vote for the new constitution saying, “It took the army 14 years to complete the draft and unless you approve this constitution, it will take another 14 years of military rule to prepare another draft.”
On April 10, the State Peace and Development Council held a mock referendum in Chin State capital of Hakha in which 150 people were called in to vote. Over 80 percent of the people voted “No” in the mock poll, prompting Major General Hung Ngai, Chairman of Chin State Peace and Development Council to travel to several townships and distributing free rice to people in an effort to court Chin voters.
About two weeks prior to the referendum on May 10, 16 army patrol columns consisting of several hundred Burmese troops (No less than 300 soldiers) from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 226 (based in Hakha), LIB 268 (Based in Falam), LIB 228 (Based in Kalay Myo), LIB 89 (Based in Kalay), LIB 289 (Based in Teddim) and LIB 274 (Based in Mindat), were sent to remote areas along India-Burma border to campaign for the referendum. According to local villagers in these areas interviewed by Chin Human Rights Organization, Burmese troops threatened them with 3 years of imprisonment and 300, 000 Kyats in monetary fines for anyone found to have cast a “No” vote. “Your only way out of military rule is through voting “yes” in this referendum” was the army’s message to rural Chin public.
Seven arrests were reported in Thantlang and Paletwa Township in the days leading up to the referendum in connection with leaflets produced by opposition groups urging citizens to reject the constitution. Three were confirmed released after two days in interrogation. The fate and whereabouts of the remaining four remain unclear.
The following is updated voting results from 11 polling stations in Chin State and Sagaing Division. The exact locations of these stations are withheld for security reasons.
Polling Station 1
In Favor (36)
Against (334)
Discarded Votes (5)
Total Votes Cast (375)
Polling Station 2
In Favor (23)
Against (216)
Discarded (8)
Total Votes Cast (247)
Polling Station 3
In Favor (19)
Against (228)
Discarded (6)
Total Votes Cast (253)
Polling Station 4
In Favor (20)
Against (406)
Discarded (56)
Total Votes Cast (482)
Polling Station 5
In Favor (16)
Against (183)
Discarded (19)
Total Votes Cast (218)
Polling Station 6
In Favor (114)
Against (410)
Discarded votes (111)
Toral Votes Cast (635)
Polling Station 7
In favor (89)
Against (549)
Discarded (35)
Total Votes Cast (673)
Polling Station 8
In Favor (101)
Against (368)
Discarded (64)
Total Votes Cast (533)
Polling Station 9
In Favor (65)
Against (512)
Discarded (41)
Total Votes Cast (618)
Polling Station 10
In Favor (76)
Against (176)
Discarded (8)
Polling Station 11
In Favor (15)
Against (200)
Discarded (0)
Total Votes Cast (215)
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