=====
----- Original Message -----
From: Rhododendron Online
To: chinland@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
; laiforum@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
;
zalengam@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
; zomi@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sunday, May 11, 2008 2:34 AM
Subject: [ZONET] Press Release: MORE CHIN PEOPLE VOTED "NO" AMIDST THREATS
AND INTIMIDATION
Immediate Release
11 May 2008
Chin Human Rights Organization
www.chro.org
MORE ZOMI (CHIN) PEOPLE VOTED "NO" AMIDST THREATS AND INTIMIDATION
Ottawa, Canada: Amidst widespread coercion and intimidation by military
authorities, early poll results obtained by Chin Human Rights Organization
from seven polling stations in two town****ps in Chin State indicates that
more than 80 per cent of Chin people voted against the military-backed
constitution. This is despite the fact that many votes were thrown off as
ineligible or because they were marked "inappropriately."
More than nine per cent of the total votes in these polling stations were
not counted towards the final tally.
But results for government servants who voted early are still not known.
In
Thantlang town of northern Chin State, more than 300 government employees
cast their votes in a specially arranged early polls.
In one particular polling station, 549 out of 673 people voted against the
new constitution.
"Based on these early results and what we have seen across polling
stations,
all indications are that there would be a resounding "no" to the new
constitution in Chin State," says an observer on the ground.
There are also re****ts of several arrests in connection with the
referendum
on Saturday. Two youths were arrested in Thantlang over the weekend in
suspiscion of distributing leaflets urging citizens to vote "no" in the
referendum, but they were released after two days of interrogation in
detention. Four other people were also re****tedly arrested in Paletwa
town****ps of southern Chin State earlier in the week.
"No matter how the Burmese regime tries to manipulate the result of the
votes, these early results suggest that Chin people are not convinced that
things will be any better for them under this constitution. It would be of
such enormous significance symbolically, and I wouldn't be surprised if
the
majority of Chin people rejected it, given that Chins are co-founding
members of the Union of Burma," says Salai Bawi Lian Mang, Executive
Director of Chin Human Rights Organization.
The following is the results from six polling stations in Chin State (The
exact locations are withheld for security reasons.)
Polling Station I
In Favor (114)
Against (410)
Discarded votes (111)
Toral Votes Cast (635)
Polling Station II
In favor (89)
Against (549)
Discarded (35)
Total Votes Cast (673)
Polling Station III
In Favor (101)
Against (368)
Discarded (64)
Total Votes Cast (533)
Polling Station IV
In Favor (65)
Against (512)
Discarded (41)
Total Votes Cast (618)
Polling Station V
In Favor (76)
Against (176)
Discarded (8)
Total vote casts (260)
Polling Station (VI)
In Favor (15)
Against (200)
Discarded (0)
Total Votes Cast (215)
Polling Station (VII)
In Favor (55)
Against (262)
Discarded (29)
Total Votes Cast (317)
For more information contact:
Salai Bawi Lian Mang (CHRO Executive Director)
Email: bawilian@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
+1-510-332-0983
Victor Biak Lian (CHRO member of board of Directors)
Email: vblian@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
+66-81-530-0702
=====
|
