Vote 'Yes' or 'No'?

April 25, Mizzima News
Vote 'Yes' or 'No'?

A reader sent a letter to Mizzima arguing why Burmese should vote 'No' in
the upcoming May 10 referendum on the draft constitution.

Here are the reasons he outlines:

* Amendment of the constitution is rigid, requiring 75 percent of the
legislature to propose any changes and requires all eligible voters to
support the motion in a referendum. This gives a chance to the military to
rule the country forever.

* Provides opportunity for the military to declare a state-of-emergency
anytime it wants. This gives the military enormous power to bypass all the
laws and nullifies the role of civilian government.

* Does not provide for the separation of powers.

* Military commander-in-chief has final say on decisions.

* Military is a state within the state.

* Reserves 25 percent of seats in both houses for the armed forces.

* Drafted by non-elected assembly.

* Requires the President to have a military background.

* Fails to address ethnic interests.

* Undertaken in a spirit of inequality and unfairness with respect to
participating political groups in the national convention.

* Lack of consideration and welcoming of proposals from ethnic groups who
participated in the national convention in the hope that their interests
would be heard.

* No trust in SPDC's [government's] goodwill to the country as it has a
history in power replete with dishonesty.


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