PO Box 179, Merrylands, NSW 2160, SYDNEY TEL:

(614) 332 69610

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