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A constitutional referendum was held in Myanmar on 10 May 2008 (24 May 2008 in some townships) according to an announcement by the State Peace and Development Council in February 2008.〔(Burma sets date for popular votes ) BBC News, 9 February 2008〕 According to the military government, the new Constitution of Myanmar will ensure the creation of a "discipline-flourishing democracy".〔("Burma's military issues warning before poll" ), ABC Radio Australia, 9 April 2008〕 Multi-party elections followed in 2010. The constitutional referendum law was enacted and a referendum commission was set up on 26 February 2008.〔(Myanmar enacts constitutional referendum law, form referendum commission - People's Daily Online )〕 Reportedly, the law ensures the secret casting of votes and requires a public count of the ballots to prove it is fair.〔(english.eastday.com )〕 The draft constitution was published and the date of the referendum finally announced on 9 April 2008. Among the changes that the referendum seeks to make are: * One quarter of all parliamentary seats would be reserved for military officers. * The Ministry of Home Affairs would fall exclusively under military control.〔( New Burma constitution published ), BBC, 9 April 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2008〕 * Anyone married to a non-Myanma would be barred from running for the office of president.〔(Many voices silenced as Myanmar vote campaign gets under way ), ''Philippine Daily Inquirer'', 20 April 2008〕 Many international media reports suggest that this provision would have the effect of making opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi ineligible for the presidency,〔(AFP: Ban on Suu Kyi shatters hopes for Myanmar polls: analysts )〕 although her British husband died in 1999. ==Campaign== Three weeks before the referendum, the front page of the state press was headlined "Let's Vote Yes for National Interest." Many songs, poems, cartoons and editorials urging people to vote "yes" were published in local and national news media.〔 The opposition National League for Democracy called for people to vote "no" to the constitution.〔(Main Burmese Opposition Party Calls for Defeat of Draft Constitution ), ''Voice of America'', 2 April 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2008〕 However, the N.L.D. claimed their campaign against the constitution was violently suppressed, with activists arrested and material confiscated.〔 The Kachin Independence Organisation, an opposition group which participated in the government's "National Convention" process, called on its members to abstain, saying the government had failed to respond to its demands.〔(KIO To Abstain From Referendum ), ''Mizzima'', 9 April 2008〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Myanmar constitutional referendum, 2008」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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