The Union Solidarity and Development Association, a junta backed  organization is secretly planning to hold a referendum supporting the outcome of the national convention in Hakha, capital of Chin state in the last week of this month, sources in Hakha said.

"A USDA member told me that the referendum is likely to be held in the last week of September. They haven't fixed the exact date," said U Van Lian, Chairman of NLD in Hakha.

So far, the USDA has not officially announced the date or informed the people in Chin state about the referendum meant to support the outcome of the NC that will legitimize the military's role in the future constitution of Burma.

Meanwhile, military authorities in Burma have forcibly recruited locals in Kachin state, northern Burma, to involve them in the referendum to be held in Nay Pi Daw, the new administrative capital of Burma.   

The Northern Commander stationed in Kachin state has postponed the referendum for the NC which was proposed to be held between September 15 and September 27.

The Burmese junta was also said to have forced locals from various cities in Burma to involve themselves in the ensuing referendum to be held in cities across Burma.

The National Convention in which over the junta's 1,000 hand picked delegates participated was concluded early this month. It drafted the guidelines for a new constitution that will ensure the military's role in the future government and bar the National League for Democracy (NLD), the main opposition party in Burma from participating in the eventual election following the referendum. – Khonumthung.