Myanmar opposition says "No" to new constitution

Seng Yang/Human Right/April 03, 2008/5:47pm

Myanmar opposition says "No" to new constitution

"We appeal to the people to go to the voting booth and vote against the constitution," National League for Democracy (NLD) spokesman Nyan Win told Reuters in his party's first decisive response to the junta-drafted charter.

Myanmar’s new constitution says there must be 25 percent military in both houses. This would mean that the military would still be ruling through a constitution now. The rest of the house must override by 75 percent and with having 50 percent military in the houses, it would be impossible for the constitution to make any difference, and give Myanmar their fight for democracy. "We are in a real dilemma," said one retired civil servant, who did not wish to be named. "If we vote 'yes', the new constitution legitimizes military rule; if we vote 'no', the deadlock becomes deeper."

The precise date of the plebiscite, a key step in the junta's much-criticized seven-point plan to restore civilian government after decades of military rule, has yet to be announced. Many of the former Burma's 53 million people, as well as Western governments, dismiss the constitution and the roadmap as a blueprint for the army to legitimize the grip on power it has held since a 1962 coup. The last time they held an election in 1990, they ignored the results and instead put the winner of the election, the legitimate and rightful ruler on house arrest.

http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCABKK10411920080402?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0