Chins in exile reject Burmese regime's announcements
February 21, 2008 - Chins from political parties and organizations in exile called on its people to ignore the junta's recent announcements on the referendum over the constitution and elections.
The military junta on February 9 announced holding a referendum in May followed by elections 2010 as part of the Burmese regime's seven-step road map to the so called "disciplined democracy" in Burma.
The Chin Student Union which staged a demonstration in New Delhi, India to mark 60th anniversary of the Chin National Day yesterday urged the junta to immediately halt the referendum to approve the constitution drafted in the 14-year long national convention.
The Chin National Council in exile in its statement on February 19 called the draft constitution of the Burmese junta a farce as it did not reflect the real views of the people of Burma.
The CNC further said that the principle and regulation of the constitution was drafted by junta's handpicked delegates.
The Chin National Front, a Chin ethnic armed group, on February 20 also called for Chins around the world to ignore the junta's announcements on the referendum and election.
"The Burmese regime had also nullified the democratic system that the representatives of tribes and clans in Chin state agreed to practice in Chin society in the national assembly held in Falam town in Chin state on February 20, 1948," the CNF said in its statement.
On Tuesday, the Chief Justice of Burma announced that the 54-member constitution drafting commission had finished its final draft charter that bars Aung San Suu Kyi from contesting the elections. – Khonumthung.
