Myanmar

Even as it continued to bar relief efforts and starve its people, the military junta in Myanmar finished up the rest of its referendum on a new constitution this weekend by holding "voting" in the very areas affected by the cyclone. (Voting in the parts of the country not affected by the cyclone took place two weeks ago).

In the most deplorable conditions imaginable. The referendum result enshrines the rule of the military junta in the constitution. From AP.

The military junta running Myanmar (formerly Burma) has been slow in responding to the death and devastation caused by a tropical cyclone over the weekend. But even with much of the country in ruins, the junta is going forward with a sham referendum this Saturday, May 10, on a new constitution that will enshrine the dictatorship there.

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THE WORST REFERENDUM IN THE WORLD: The Burmese have arrested about 60 people who dared to campaign for the "no" side in the sham May 10 constitutional referendum being staged by the military junta there. The rules for the vote mock all notions of fairness and democracy. Domestic media also were formally barred from reporting on the referendum this week.

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