Singapore (AsiaNews) – The fear of retaliation by Myanmar’s military regime has created an atmosphere in which even voters living abroad are afraid to vote against the country’s proposed constitution. In a few days overseas Burmese will be able to cast their ballots ahead of the vote back home (scheduled for 10 May). Last week in Singapore, Japan and South Korea Myanmar nationals received letters from their Embassies “inviting” them to go and vote, this according to Burmese dissident websites who speak of an atmosphere of intense fear among voters who would otherwise not back the new charter proposed by the military.
In Singapore Burmese nationals were told that all those who paid overseas taxes to the Embassy had the right to vote in the referendum and were advised to vote “Yes”. The letter said that Burmese passport holders will be able to cast their votes at the Embassy between 25 and 29 April.
The same procedure was followed in Japan where voters were told that they had to show their passports at polling stations.
“I am worried that they might make a record of me and get me into trouble if I vote ‘No’. But I am not going to vote ‘Yes’ either,” a Burmese woman in Japan told the Democratic Voice of Burma agency.
Ko Yan Naing Htun, information coordinator for the National League for Democracy in Seoul, South Korea, said Myanmar passport holders in that country had also received invitation letters from the Embassy to participate in the referendum.
“A lot of people have said they might just cast 'Yes' votes as they are worried they might get into trouble if they vote 'No',” Yan said.