NO VOTE FOR EU TREATY: Brits want to vote on the highly unpopular EU Reform Treaty, also known as the Lisbon Treaty. This is the new European Union treaty negotiated last year to replace the proposed EU constitution that Dutch and French voters previously rejected on the ballot. What’s important about the constitution to those interested in blockbuster democracy? It includes a provision for a EU-wide referendum – which would be the first example of a transnational referendum in the world.

Aaah, but Labor PMs vote not to put the matter to a vote of the people. Of the 27 member states in the EU, only Ireland will let its people vote on the treaty.

NO SUPERVISION FOR BURMESE VOTE: No UN observers at Myanmar’s constitutional referendum. The junta, which killed and imprisoned monks during a crackdown against anti-government demonstrations last September, has banned speeches or writings about the referendum. The Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi would be banned under the proposed constitution from running for office because she was married to a foreigner.

NO TO TAIWAN VOTE, NORTH KOREA SAYS: The North Koreans don’t like direct democracy any better than they like democracy. Pyongyang has issued its official condemnation of Taiwan’s March 22 referendum on joining the United Nations. Countries all over the world, not to mention the http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gckrzWLtVQkoRXpUQ62dsVMTgOig)">EU have been falling all over themselves to blast Taiwan’s vote as a way of ingratiating themselves with China. On the Taiwan vote, Europe and the North Koreans have the same position. Taiwan lost its UN seat to the mainland in 1971.