Brief news on the SPDC's announcement regarding the referendum and election in 2010.

Dear Friends,

This is a special briefer on the SPDC’s announcement regarding the referendum and election in 2010. As people inside Burma as well as around the world voiced their views and opinions on this particular matter we have compiled the responses from the international community and governments as well as from the Burmese political organizations and the solidarity groups for Burma.


SPDC’s Timetable:
The regime offers the timetable last weekend to hold referendum in May and the multi-party elections in 2010. However, this election could not possibly be considered free and fair unless basic democratic principles are in place and all political prisoners and human rights activists, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders, are released.

USDA the organizer:
Worryingly the regime gives the task of organizing and even the forming of commissions in the local level for voting and election process to Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) in spite of its members’ involvement in the violent crackdown of peaceful protests in last August and September. This regime-backed organization is also given the responsibility to choose the candidates for competing in the 2010 elections.

Critics’ response:
SPDC’s timetable on referendum and election is responded as “too little, too late” by its critics who argued that long-delayed roadmap is designed to perpetuate military rule in Burma. Critics have their points on this as the regime still does not show any sincerity in promoting democracy. Besides, it is excluding major political players like Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of NLD and the other main ethnic political leaders like Khun Htun Oo of SNLD in the process.

NLD response:
Spokesperson from NLD, U Nyan Win, criticizes that “the announcement (to hold a referendum and election) is vague, incomplete and strange” as the regime gives the timetable for election before knowing what the result of referendum would be.

Peoples’ response:
It is rather a mix feeling and hope that people respond to this announcement yet it has clearly shown that the people of Burma wish to see a change for the better. Some people in Burma welcome the regime’s timetable with better-than-nothing attitude. Some are even contemplating a coalition government in Burma. Nonetheless, “all major parties should be allowed to run in it” was the response from one Rangoon roadside food vendor. A 48 year old woman who sells noodle salad was quoted as saying "I am not interested in their referendum because the results are known already". February 12th was the Union Day of Burma and supporters and members of the NLD gathered to voice their dissatisfaction with the steps taken buy the regime as "insufficient".

Women's voices inside and outside:
Women activists inside and outside of the country totally denounced the regime's latest step as "preparing to lie" to the people of Burma. Daw Myint Myint Sein, the NLD's Women Wing Central Office, said that "I do not think it is a positive direction. I think it is pointless as we haven't been able to do anything with the result of last elections and now we are going to have another election.... However, we do hope for the best and we are trying our best."

Phyu Phyu Thin, NLD member and care-giver to the people living with HIV and AIDS, said that this is the "act of dictatorship" as the regime attempts to destroy people's wish and hope. She believed that the people already showed their wish by voting for the NLD in 1990 May Elections.

Nilar Thein, a leader of 88' Generation Students Group, argued that it is "unacceptable" as the people of Burma have shown their true desire of what they really want in August and September. She also questioned and raised her concern that the regime will force, threaten or bribe people to vote in the referendum.

Nang Charm Tong of Shan Women's Action Network (SWAN) said that "As we all know. People of Burma have been asking for tripartite dialogue which includes the SPDC, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders. But to this day, U Khun Htun Oo and other Shan ethnic leaders, who were elected in 1990 elections, are being detained and denied medical treatment. How can they carry out the political change and dialogue process while they still hold Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and many other political prisoners?"

Responses from the UN and the international community:

The United Nations - issued a statement which said the regime's announcement as a "the first step towards the implementation of its political 'road map' process" but the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon renews his call to the regime to make the constitution-making process inclusive, participatory and transparent in order to ensure that any draft constitution is broadly representative of the views of all the people of Burma.

ASEAN – Chief of ASEAN, Surin Pitsuwan, was optimistic on the regime’s announcement and has used the words the regime’s steps as “definite beginning” and “development in the right direction”. He said that the generals “should be given the benefit of the doubt if they are serious about moving the country toward democracy” although he understand the frustration of international community over generals’ intransigency.

Australia – described this sham claim by the military regime. Australia’s Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith is highly skeptical of the regime’s real intention and said “We strongly believe that you can only have genuine movements to democracy and respect for human rights in Burma if there is full and complete participation by the international community and all political players in Burma”. Mr. Smith has discussed about Burma with various political leaders he has met over the past two months during his trips to Indonesia, USA and Japan. Australia is part of 14 countries that formed “Group of Friends” of Burma last year.


The British Foreign Office – issued a statement and responded that “a genuine and inclusive process of national reconciliation” was necessary for a transition to democracy and call for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. Foreign Office spokeswoman also said that the "political leaders in Burma have not been consulted on the constitution or the election process".

Malaysia – Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid, raised his hopes that the regime's decision to hold elections in 2010 will be realized as planned and all parties will participate according to democratic practice.

Singapore – currently the chair of ASEAN, welcomed and described this as a ‘positive development’ but urged the regime to carry out an inclusive political process that would lead to peaceful national reconciliation in the country.

Russia – believes that the State Constitution "will defuse international tensions around the Southeast Asian country and set it on the path to democracy" Russia's Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying.

The United States – condemned the plan as "it could not be free, fair and credible" under the conditions as a constitution had been drafted in non-transparency manner and not enough time is also given to debate on it. The White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino, called on the regime to comply with the UN call last October that it be an open and inclusive process that allows all of the Burmese people a fair say in the structure and form of their new government.