In Myanmar, critics of new charter face attacks

ABS-CBN
YANGON - Myanmar's pro-democracy party led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi said Saturday opponents of the junta's proposed constitution were being beaten and intimidated ahead of next month's vote.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) said six party members had been attacked by unknown people and 20 others detained and tortured in the run-up to the May 10 ballot.

The ruling generals say the vote will be fair and that approval of the charter will usher in multiparty elections in 2010, but pro-democracy activists say it simply entrenches the role of the military, which has ruled since 1962.


The NLD, which has publicly called on people to vote "No," said it had reported the incidents but the authorities had taken no action to investigate.

"The responsible authorities have never done any investigating, charging or taking any action to 'uphold law and order' over those crimes committed against NLD party members," it said.

Six party members had been attacked and beaten by unknown assailants since the junta announced in February it would hold a referendum on the proposed constitution, it said. One member needed 21 stitches in his head after an assault, which also affected his vision.

Another 20 party members who wore T-shirts printed with the word "No" were recently arrested in the western port town of Sittwe and tortured while being detained for investigation.

The party said the attacks and arrests were intimidation tactics against opponents of the junta-backed constitution. Officials would not comment on the party's charges.

The junta, however, has said the vote would be held in a "systematic and fair manner," state media reported Saturday.

Vice-Senior General Maung Aye, the junta's number two, told a passing out parade for army recruits that the military was trying to produce a constitution that would pave the way to democracy, the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.

"Comrades, it is the Tatmadaw (military) that is constantly striving for the emergence of a constitution capable of shaping the multiparty democracy system," the general said Friday.

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