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It is time for Burmese people to show their real wish.

"The time has now come to change from military rule to democratic civilian rule," said the announcement for the 2010 polls, broadcast on state TV and radio.


We're frankly very skeptical. We're not persuaded that this [Burma junta's election plan] is anything more than a cynical sham.
—Stephen Smith, Australian Foreign Minister


A statement from the British Foreign Office in London said "a genuine and inclusive process of national reconciliation" was necessary for a transition to democracy, and called for the release of Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

Last week, the United States broadened financial sanctions against junta members and their families and friends, blaming the military's poor human rights record and failure to hand power to a democratically elected government.

"The announcement is vague, incomplete and strange," NLD party spokesman Nyan Win said Saturday night.

"Even before knowing the results of the referendum, the government has already announced that elections will be held in 2010," he said, also implying the government was certain the draft constitution would get approval.

Tun Myint Aung, a leader of the 88 Generation Students group, said citizens must study the proposed constitution carefully, since pro-democracy groups were excluded from the drafting process.

He noted the junta announced a decree, known as 5/96, in 1996 that prohibits criticism of the national convention. If convicted, a person can receive a life sentence.

“Unless 5/96 is withdrawn, the referendum in May will not be free and fair,” said Tun Myint Aung. “That means the Burmese people could face a bloodbath in the future because there is no meaningful resolution in the junta’s plans, and there will be mass protests again if the people do not get a real democracy.”

A veteran politician in Rangoon, Chan Tun, said the junta’s decrees were vague and unclear whether the voting would be democratic and transparent. “The junta must be clear what it will do if the people vote ‘no,’ and if the referendum is free and fair,” he said. “In the 1990 election, the Burmese people chose a democratic government, but the junta ignored the election results.”

Larry Jagan, a British journalist who specializes in Burma issues, said that until the details of a constitutional referendum and general election are known, it is impossible to say whether the junta has made a significant step towards a real democracy.

The junta was badly defeated in the 1990 general election, he noted, and the generals may have tricks to use against the NLD and other candidates, including limiting their ability to field candidates, raise money and run a campaign.

Simply announcing the referendum and general election dates does not enhance the junta’s credibility, he said.

Jagan said the real issue is true dialogue which is not taking place.

“How can the constitution be representative and legitimate without the participation of all-important sectors of Burmese society, including pro-democracy opposition groups, Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic groups?” he asked.

"I am not interested in their referendum because the results are known already," said 48-year old noodle salad seller Mar Mar Aye, echoing the popular belief that the government is confident its constitution will be approved.

Singapore's Foreign Ministry hailed the move by Burmese military government to set a timeframe for a referendum on a new constitution and elections as a "positive" one.

Burma's announcement of new elections

(Burma's regime faced widespread protests last year)

The Burmese opposition has described as vague, incomplete and strange the military government's decision to hold a referendum on a new constitution in May.

The generals said a multi-party election would follow in 2010, two decades after they annulled the last election.

The surprise announcement comes just months after the brutal suppression of last September's pro-democracy protests.

Britain said Burmese political leaders had not been consulted, and called for a genuine process of reconciliation.

But Singapore's Foreign Ministry hailed the move by Burmese military government to set a timeframe for a referendum on a new constitution and elections as a "positive" one.

The pro-democracy leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, remains under house arrest, and hundreds of political prisoners are in jail.