Apr 26 Rally

PO Box 179, Merrylands, NSW 2160, SYDNEY (614) 332 69610

TEL:

Protest Rally against Burma’s Unconstitutional Referendum On 26 April 2008, The International Burmese Monks Organisation (Australia) calls for a Global Day of condemnation of undemocratic and unconstitutional Referendum announced for May 2008. We would like to invite you to join us for a Peace Walk & Prayer Service. The military junta has written the Draft Constitution unilaterally without allowing the opposition political groups such as the NLD, the 88 Generation Students Group and the Ethnic groups to participate. The military junta is not the elected representative of the people of Burma and as such has no mandate for this mission. According to the draft constitution, the commander in chief of the armed forces is entitled to fill 110 seats in the 440-seat parliament with appointees from the ranks of the armed forces. And in the event of a "state of emergency," the commander in chief will assume full legislative, executive and judicial powers. Amending the constitution would be almost impossible without the military's consent. Three-quarters of parliament must approve any changes, which then must go to voters in a referendum. Myanmar's military government set May 10 as the date for a referendum on a new constitution, which pro-democracy activists have rejected because it is a means for the generals to entrench their rule. Although the NLD and other pro-democracy groups are calling for a "No" vote, they have little ability to campaign effectively because the regime has outlawed speeches and leaflets about the referendum. Dissidents have no access to the media, which is tightly controlled by the regime. Copies of the constitution were only released to the public on Wednesday 9 April, when they were put on sale in government bookstores for nearly one dollar -- a price far beyond the means of most people in this impoverished country.

There is no guarantee of human rights or the freedom to practice religious beliefs in Burma. Innocent Buddhist monks chanting prayers for peace were brutally crushed by the military junta during September 2007. Initially the monks only requested the military junta relieve the suffering of the average person on the street and invited the junta to the negotiating table for all inclusive peace talks with the ethnic groups and the National League for Democracy (NLD). This is now regarded as the "Saffron Revolution" Although there is very little news from Burma, 50 million Burmese continue to suffer from a lack of human rights and democracy. Your support is needed for Burma Please attend and show your solidarity with the Buddhist monks.

Date : 26th April 2008 (Saturday) Time : 1pm Venue : BELMORE PARK, Hay Street, Haymarket, SYDNEY 2000

Train: Alight from Central station and exit at Eddy Avenue More information please contact on Sayadaw U DHammacara 0433 269 610 Dr Kyaw Myint

0427 417 620

U Maung Maung Myint

0437 470 464

Ko Thu

0421 418 449