Burma presses for vote as millions face starvation
- added May 10, 2008
- 3 responses
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- mischabarrett
- added this
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- Science and Earth (6834)
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- Cyclone Nargis (23)
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State-run TV news in Burma today has broadcast repeated calls for people to vote in this weekend's controversial referendum, making no mention of the tens of thousands killed and missing in a devastating cyclone one week ago. Voting has begun despite international appeals for the ruling military to focus on recovery efforts.
Meanwhile the UN is said to be furious at the Burmese military's confiscation of two planeloads of food aid intended for the disaster victims. France and the U.S. have called for aid deliveries to go ahead even if permission from the ruling military junta is not forthcoming.
The referendum got under way today predominantly in the north and far south of the country: the vote has been postponed for two weeks in the areas hardest hit by Cyclone Nargis. Around 50 per cent of Burma's population are eligible to vote, but even before the disaster many saw it as skewed in the military's favour. Officials hope to secure backing for a new constitution.
Western diplomats say up to 100,000 people may have been killed by Cyclone Nargis, while more than one million have been left without shelter, and many more are at risk of starvation and dehydration.
Undercover journalists for Al-Jazeera have mentioned heavy security presence on the streets and intimidation from the military for a 'yes' vote to back the new constitution. This is to be followed in 2010 by a general election, and both polls have been labelled a "road map to democracy" for Burma by the ruling military. The draft constitution guarantees 25 per cent of parliamentary seats to the military and allows the president to hand over all power to them in a state of emergency.
The rules would also bar from public office Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the pro-democracy movement who is currently in custody. Her National League for Democracy party won a general election in 1990, but their victory was ignored by the junta.
Meanwhile the UN is said to be furious at the Burmese military's confiscation of two planeloads of food aid intended for the disaster victims. France and the U.S. have called for aid deliveries to go ahead even if permission from the ruling military junta is not forthcoming.
The referendum got under way today predominantly in the north and far south of the country: the vote has been postponed for two weeks in the areas hardest hit by Cyclone Nargis. Around 50 per cent of Burma's population are eligible to vote, but even before the disaster many saw it as skewed in the military's favour. Officials hope to secure backing for a new constitution.
Western diplomats say up to 100,000 people may have been killed by Cyclone Nargis, while more than one million have been left without shelter, and many more are at risk of starvation and dehydration.
Undercover journalists for Al-Jazeera have mentioned heavy security presence on the streets and intimidation from the military for a 'yes' vote to back the new constitution. This is to be followed in 2010 by a general election, and both polls have been labelled a "road map to democracy" for Burma by the ruling military. The draft constitution guarantees 25 per cent of parliamentary seats to the military and allows the president to hand over all power to them in a state of emergency.
The rules would also bar from public office Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the pro-democracy movement who is currently in custody. Her National League for Democracy party won a general election in 1990, but their victory was ignored by the junta.
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- mischabarrett
- 1 month ago
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Devastating news. My heart goes out to all of those affected by this storm. Hopefully someone can get the junta to allow some help in...
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Crime against humanity. Their nation is suffering with citizens dying, people starving, disease out breaks imminent and the jaunta order people to vote
It good to see in the face of such a huge disaster the military have maintained order and it's business as usual for the evil power mongers running Burma!
I hope their people see freedom one day -
How sad...when a huge catastrophe calls for the should be honorable leaders to stand and deliver for the needy masses, all they can do is devise a further means of manipulating the demographic...one more example of the blatant corruption pervading the political landscape.
Our infamous U.S. leaders have not been setting a very good example of late either...but, instead, sending the wrong message to others around the world...
How long before these global wounds will heal..? The psychological damage is intense...
Tyranny...the deep rooted seed...-
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- PlatoTacius
- 1 month ago
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