Burma Update: March 28, 2008

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Photos: Rally to Demonstrate How to Vote 'No' in Coming Referendum, In front of NLD Office in Rangoon, Mar 27.

Protests against regime's constitution

Yesterday March 27 marked another important day in Burma’s history as it was Burma’s Armed Forces Day (formerly known as Resistance Day), and the military regime marked the day with a grand military parading and with the speech of Senior-General Than Shwe while the National League for Democracy (NLD) also celebrated as it was the day General Aung San, the father of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, led the people’s resistance against the Japanese rule in 1945.

As reported in our previous briefer, although the time to referendum approaches less than two months, the regime has yet to announce the exact date of voting and has not made its drafted constitution public. They had, however, allowed the UN Special Envoy, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari to view the final version, but people of Burma know nothing or very little about the constitution they are voting which would also decides their future.

What more is that the regime has enacted the law concerning the freedom of expression on the referendum which outlaws any kinds of activities or anyone that publicly criticizes or against the referendum or will be punishable by fines and three years prison sentence.

In spite of these constraints and intimidations, more than 30 demonstrators wearing T-shirts printed with the word “NO” staged a protest in front of the Headquarters of the NLD. It was a rare protest even though people in Rangoon and Mandalay cities had been wearing similar T shirts with the word “NO” for some days already. At the same time, about another 100 people were attending the Resistance Day at the NLD Headquarters. Some NLD members joined the protesters. The protesters called on other fellow citizens to vote against the proposed constitution which would give sweeping power to the military. Some of the protesters wore blue-colored prison uniforms and shackles and some held flags of the United Nations and the flags of the main political party of parliamentary era of Burma – the Anti-Fascist Peoples’ Freedom League (AFPFL). They also shouted the slogans against the regime’s constitution and distributed pamphlets calling on voters to go to poll stations and vote against it.


News from Burmese Media

Democratic Voice of Burma: Prome Police Seize Weapons and Explosives
Mizzima News: Junta Likens Itself to 19th Century Royal Court
Narinjara News: Burmese Start Long March in Bangladesh to Protest Referendum
Narinjara News: Military Trains for Referendum
Narinjara News: 70 Burmese Nationals Arrested in Bangladesh
Kaladan Press Network: Arbitrary Arrests and Extortion Continue in Maungdaw
Kachin News Group: Ethnic Kachin Baptists Inaugurate Diamond Jubilee Hall
New Light of Myanmar: Senior General Than Shwe Addresses 63rd Anniversary Armed Forces Day Parade
Irrawaddy News Magazine: USDA Holds Referendum “Information” Sessions
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Human Rights Activist Attacked in Rangoon
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Burmese Junta Supports China’s Crackdown in Tibet
Democratic Voice of Burma: NLD Marks Anti-Fascist Revolution Day
Democratic Voice of Burma: Monk Group and 88 Students Slam UN efforts on Burma


Opinion/Other

The Globe and Mail: Right Thinking Must Lead to Action on Burma - Dr. Thaung Htun