Following reports that the military junta in Burma will still pursue its already questionable national referendum of a likewise controversial constitution on May 10 despite the calamity wrought by Cyclone Nargis, activists in the Philippines today held another picket in front of the Burmese Embassy in Makati City to reiterate their demand for the “nationwide postponement” of Burma’s referendum.
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Following reports that the military junta in Burma will still pursue its already questionable national referendum of a likewise controversial constitution on May 10 despite the calamity wrought by Cyclone Nargis, activists in the Philippines today held another picket in front of the Burmese Embassy in Makati City to reiterate their demand for the “nationwide postponement” of Burma’s referendum.
Reports confirmed that authorities in some towns of Burma have begun its pre-referendum ‘Yes’ vote campaign. In Kachin State alone, officials are threatening residents in a village to cast the “Yes” vote to approve the constitution on May 10.
Stating earlier that the proposed referendum is “untimely”, the Free Burma Coalition-Philippines (FBC-Phils) is likening the Burmese junta to a “vulture” preying on a hapless, dying population.
“What else should we call them? While the people are barely surviving the disaster, the generals are busy ensuring their own survival in power by bulldozing the referendum. Fifty percent (50%) of the population is now affected by the calamity. The entire country is in distress. These are enough reasons to declare a nationwide postponement of the referendum, and galvanize the nation to instead focus on getting back on its feet” said Gus Miclat, convenor of FBC-Philippines.
“If the junta remains bull-headed and callous by pursuing the referendum, the results of the exercise would even become more questionable. We challenge the junta to instead re-channel their budget for the referendum to the basic needs of the cyclone victims, ” Miclat added.
Today’s rally coincides with the ASEAN’s Senior Officials Meeting in Singapore. The group has likewise called on ASEAN member-states to put on its priority agenda the issue of Burma. The FBC-Phils earlier asked ASEAN to monitor relief distribution and ensure that the junta will not use the relief services for buying YES votes on May 10.
It has been reported that more than 10,000 people were killed by the cyclone in the Bogalay town alone in Irrawaddy Delta region. The total death toll is currently estimated at 23,000 and may rise further with about 41,000 still missing and feared dead. Up to at least a million people may also be displaced.
Free Burma Coalition-Philippines
KAMAO Urban Poor Organization
Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)
Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)
Workers’ Solidarity Network (WSN)
For more information: Pls contact Egoy Bans and Gani Abunda at 0929-4109647, 09209132472 or call 435-2900 or 911-0205
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