Myanmar warns of bombing plans by 'terrorists' during upcoming referendum

Straits Times
YANGON - MYANMAR'S state-controlled press warned on Saturday that 'terrorists' may be planning bombings during the country's constitutional referendum next month.
A commentary published in the New Light of Myanmar and other newspapers implied that attacks were being planned by allies of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party has labeled the proposed constitution an undemocratic sham and urged voters to reject it.

Articles carried in state-owned newspapers generally reflect the viewpoints of the ruling military junta, with an emphasis on propaganda attacks on the country's pro-democracy movement.

Saturday's column said a terrorist plot could be 'deduced' from a youth member of Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party who was arrested with explosives last month. It gave few details of the arrest.

It also denounced subversive elements that 'claim democracy while committing terrorist and anarchic acts'.

The military junta, which has been heavily criticised after cracking down on pro-democracy demonstrations last year, announced in February that it will hold a constitutional referendum in May and a general election in 2010.

The upcoming referendum will be the first time since a 1990 general election that Myanmar's people are allowed a vote of any kind.

Ms Suu Kyi's party won that election, but the military refused to hand over power.

The text of the proposed constitution, obtained by The Associated Press, enshrines the military's dominant role in politics, bars Suu Kyi from public office and protects members of the ruling junta from prosecution for past actions.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi, who is currently under house arrest, has been in detention without trial for more than 12 of the past 18 years.

Myanmar has been without a constitution since 1988, when the current junta took power and scrapped the previous charter after violently quashing mass pro-democracy demonstrations. -- AP