Myanmar presses on with poll

2008-05-09 09:03

Yangon - Myanmar on Friday urged voters to approve a new military-backed constitution this weekend, ignoring international calls to delay holding the referendum in the wake of a deadly cyclone.

The ruling junta has insisted on proceeding with the referendum in most parts of the country, except 47 townships worst-hit by Cyclone Nargis including the country's main city Yangon.

Officially, Myanmar says that about 65 000 people are dead or missing since the storm slammed ashore last weekend, but the United States says the true toll could be 100 000.

The United Nations says more than one million people are battling to stave off hunger and disease, but Myanmar's junta insists the referendum will go ahead despite its lagging efforts to distribute aid to survivors.

Entrench military rule

The official New Light of Myanmar newspaper ran banner headlines across its front page on Friday urging voters to approve the charter, which critics say will entrench military rule.

"To approve the state constitution is the national duty of the entire people today," the paper said. "Let us all cast 'Yes' votes in the national interest."

Detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party on Friday called on the regime to postpone the voting, which will be the first since she led her National League for Democracy to a landslide victory in 1990 elections.

The result was never recognised by the military government.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Thursday also urged the regime to focus on distributing aid to cyclone victims rather than on holding the referendum, a call echoed in Europe and the United States.

- AFP