Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CHIANGMAI74
2008-05-14 04:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Chiang Mai
Cable title:  

BURMA'S CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM DOMINATED BY

Tags:  PREL PHUM PGOV KDEM BM TH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3538
PP RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHCHI #0074/01 1350428
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P R 140428Z MAY 08
FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0759
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0040
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0018
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0048
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0067
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0030
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0048
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 0815
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHIANG MAI 000074 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, IO AND DRL
NSC FOR PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/12/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KDEM BM TH
SUBJECT: BURMA'S CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM DOMINATED BY
IRREGULARITIES, ACCORDING TO EXILES

REF: CHIANG MAI 63

CHIANG MAI 00000074 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Alex Barrasso, Chief, Pol/Econ, CG Chiang Mai.
REASON: 1.4 (d)

--------------
Summary
--------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHIANG MAI 000074

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, IO AND DRL
NSC FOR PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/12/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KDEM BM TH
SUBJECT: BURMA'S CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM DOMINATED BY
IRREGULARITIES, ACCORDING TO EXILES

REF: CHIANG MAI 63

CHIANG MAI 00000074 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Alex Barrasso, Chief, Pol/Econ, CG Chiang Mai.
REASON: 1.4 (d)

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) Voting irregularities in Burma's constitutional
referendum were blatant, wide-spread, and intentional, according
to Burmese exile groups based on the Thai-Burma border. By the
morning of May 10, they had already catalogued over 100 reports
of irregularities covering both advanced voting and early
morning voting on May 10 itself. At subsequent meetings on the
afternoon of May 10 and the morning of May 11, these groups
shared more such reports, as well as some preliminary results
based on polling monitors they had deployed inside Burma. These
reports belie the regime's own public statements that the
referendum would be free and fair. They also contradict
speculation by analysts and the media that the regime would not
tamper significantly with the voting process itself, but would
instead prefer to distort the final tally after completing the
counting of votes. End Summary.


2. (C) On a May 9-11 trip to Mae Sot, Tak Province on the
Thai-Burma border, we met with a wide variety of exiles to
gather information about voting in Burma's May 10 constitutional
referendum, as well as to discuss relief efforts in the wake of
Cyclone Nargis and the political implications of the storm
(Septel). The alliance of seven exile groups embodied in the
Strategic Coordination Committee, and the Committee for Mass
Movement (Reftel),used the offices of one of its members (the
Forum for Democracy in Burma) as a center to receive and compile
reports about voting. The FDB and its partners told us they
plan to share much of this information at a press conference
scheduled to take place in Bangkok on May 15. The National
League for Democracy Liberated Areas (NLDLA) also compiled
information on voting irregularities.


3. (U) Below is a synopsis of the reported irregularities these
contacts shared with us.

Meiktila Township, Kachin State: There was no ballot box; people
were instructed to sign their ballots and vote yes. In other
parts of the state, authorities asked the head of household to
vote for the entire family. Voters were forced to provide their
name, the name of their employer, and their ID card before
voting. Voting was conducted at the offices of village headmen
and the Burma Army, rather than at polling stations. In some
areas, voters were also told to sign ballots on which yes had
already been checked.

Paukkhaung Township, Bago Division: Authorities added voters to
the registry.

Thayawaddy, Bago and Mandalay Divisions: Some voters were told
to make their selection in front of polling officials and then
place the ballot in the ballot box.

Nahmkhan Township, Shan State: There was no ballot box at at
least one station. One voter who checked the "no" box was
intimidated and threatened with arrest; he was told that voting
no was an act of opposition to the State, and his vote was
changed by polling officials. These actions frightened the rest
of the voters in line behind him, and they all checked yes on
their ballots.

Kyiakmaraw Township, Mon State: In seven villages, there were no
ballot boxes. Those who voted no were questioned and
reprimanded; they were reminded of the consequences of opposing
the constitution, and told that if they did not vote yes, the
SPDC would not continue development projects there.

Kyaupadaung Township: Authorities denied a group of Muslims
permission to travel to Mandalay Division until they voted yes
first.

Moumein: In several townships, residents were asked to vote in
advance on May 9 under the pretext that there would be too many
voters on May 10. In 12 villages, the ballots were already

CHIANG MAI 00000074 002.2 OF 002


marked yes, and authorities told voters that the "vote no"
campaign would not win, further insisting that they were
"assisting" the villagers by making them vote yes.

Yay Nan Chaung Township, Magway Division: In some villages,
voting was conducted on the night of May 9. Local USDA (the
regime's mass-member mobilization organization) and local PDC
(Peace and Development Council) members went house to house,
instructing voters not to oppose the referendum and taking their
votes at their residences. In other parts of the township,
voters were told to vote yes at the registration desk, or enter
the voting booth if they wanted to vote no.

Mandalay and Mong Ton: At two polling places, voters lined up
outside were told that their votes had already been cast and
were instructed to go home. Some became angry, and clashed with
security officials. (Note: We have no further details on this
encounter.)

Zego Gone Township, Bago Division: Members of the Myanmar
Woman's Federation followed voters into the voting booth.

Pegu Division: There were no pens or pencils in some voting
booths, and some voters returned ballots without making a
selection. Authorities also reportedly seized identity cards,
and only returned them if the holders voted yes. Local PDC and
USDA members were present at some polling stations, with some
entering the voting booths and forcing voters to tick the yes
box.

Hmawbi Township, Rangoon Division: Authorities handed out some
ballots with the yes box already checked. Some voters had to
sign ballots first, and were then told to make their selection
at the voter registration table. They were also told that the
authorities knew which way they had voted, leading many to cast
yes votes. One civil servant who went to the polls found out
that his ballot had already been cast. One voter who voted no
was forced to give her name and address.

Thayet District: Six voters were arrested for voting no.

Magway Division: Voters sporting vote no shirts were forced to
remove them. Others distributing vote no pamphlets were
arrested.


4. (U) Our contacts also told us that teachers and other civil
servants were forced to vote in advance, and were told by
officials they would be "singled out for recognition" if they
voted no. They claim that many who voted in advance nonetheless
rejected the constitution. Soldiers and prisoners were also
forced to vote in advance, our contacts alleged. They also
asserted that in some townships, advance ballots were counted at
the township offices without any observers. The groups also
shared with us some preliminary results that their poll monitors
were able to gather. All were lopsided yes votes. In one
township, the reported result was 1060 yes votes and 200 no
votes. In another, the numbers were 1070 and 239 respectively.


5. (C) When we asked what plans the exile groups had to press
for change after the referendum, they made vague references to
the 2010 elections, and to the need to wait for the official
results of the referendum vote before determining next steps.

--------------
Comment
--------------


6. (SBU) These reports of irregularities belie the regime's
prior public assurances that the referendum would be free and
fair. These irregularities, and the overall environment of fear
and suspicion surrounding the referendum, serve only to lend
weight to our long-standing position that the regime's roadmap
is nothing but a sham. A relatively transparent voting process
by international standards would have strengthened the regime's
hand, even after announcing fictitious results. However, these
reports of irregularities make it more difficult for the
authorities to argue that the constitution was approved in a
free and fair process.
MORROW