495
Many polling stations in Mon state southern Burma did not open or close in accordance with the referendum law, said local activists.
snip At least about 10 polling stations were not opened at 6 am and closed much before 4 pm in Mudon, Thanbyuzayat and Chanug Zone townships, said a leader of the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF).
snip
"Before I went to the polling station I decided to vote against but when I arrived at the booth and voted the staff followed me into the voting room and I voted 'yes', said Nai Seik a voter from Mudon township.
snip
According to Mon community leaders, the referendum commission and poll stations staff in Mon state were threatened by the higher authorities that they would be sacked from their jobs if their polling stations got more 'No' votes than 'Yes' votes.
snip
monnews-imna.com
.................................................. ....
Referendum results slammed by ceasefire groups
“Impossible” was the word used by a senior member of the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS) in response to the claim made by Burma’s rulers yesterday of the overwhelming public support given to the military-drawn draft constitution on May 10.
snip
shanland.org
.................................................. .
Nargis Costing Burma $3 Billion
By WILLIAM BOOT / BANGKOK
Friday, May 16, 2008
Cyclone Nargis has probably cost Burma’s already weak economy more than US $3 billion, with the knock-on effects likely to be felt by the country’s poorest, say economists.
Burma’s economy is more than 50 percent dependent on agriculture—and around two-thirds of that is generated by the devastated Irrawaddy delta region, Professor Sean Turnell of Macquarie University in Australia told The Irrawaddy.
Based on the workings of the known economy, and the estimated delta damage, Turnell believes the bill for Cyclone Nargis could be as high as $3.6 billion.
“It’s a very, very rough assessment at this stage,” said Turnell, who produces the
Burma Economic Watch bulletin. However, he anticipates that production in the delta could be 75 percent down for the foreseeable future.
snip
irrawaddy.org
.................................................. ...
Burma: Monks vs. Junta By Christopher Johnson | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor Officials move refugees out of monasteries to stem monks' influence. Mae Sot, Thailand - The longstanding tensions between the two largest organizations in Burma (Myanmar) – the military and the Buddhist clergy – are finding new outlets as both groups confront the devastating aftermath of cyclone Nargis.
The monks have temples sheltering victims in the delta – and have begun to organize funding and supplies for victims, which they hope to deliver via an underground network of sympathetic citizens and exiles worldwide and in Thai border areas such as Mae Sot. But nearly two weeks since the storm struck, the military, unquestionably, has the upper hand, with guns, helicopters, and relief supplies. And now, it is starting to force cyclone victims out of monasteries into tent camps, prompted by concern that the monks could help spur protests.
snip
reliefweb.int
.................................................. ...
From victims to heroes, Myanmar's survivors step up as foreign aid blocked
May 16, 2008
BANGKOK - They are hungry, grief-stricken and their homes are in ruins, but cyclone-battered Myanmar citizens are going to heroic lengths to help their devastated communities, aid workers say.
snip
Victims to Heroes
'They're doing kind of heroic things after they went through the cyclone too. Some of them don't even have roofs on their own homes,' Save the Children's Kathryn Rawe told reporters in Bangkok.
People who have lost their family members, been displaced from their homes, and lost every possession, are turning up at Red Cross centres to offer their help.
Some have set up waystations to treat the many people who were 'sandblasted' by debris that tore a layer of skin off their backs as the ferocious storm thundered across townships on May 3, leaving at least 71,000 dead or missing.
Bridget Gardner from the International Federation of the Red Cross returned from a trip to the worst-hit Irrawaddy Delta region, which is now largely off-limits to foreigners, where she witnessed 'many acts of heroism'.
'Four or five volunteers are giving basic first aid to 200 people a day, and they don't even have homes to go back to when they finish,' she said.
Hospitals overwhelmed by victims are increasingly relying on this voluntary help.
One woman urgently needed a blood transfusion.
'These guys got on their bikes and went out and found two guys with the same blood group,' Gardner's IFRC colleague Joe Lowry said in Bangkok.
'Within five minutes they had sat them down and did a live blood transfusion into the woman. They are taking a huge burden off the hospitals.'
snip
straitstimes.com
.................................................. ..
Public health chief and team visit Burma
(BangkokPost.com) - Public Health permanent secretary Prat Boonyawongwirot and team flew to Burma on Friday morning to discuss with Burmese officials on working plan before the Thai medical team will go to help victims of Cyclone Nargis on Saturday.
The Thai medical team, comprises of 30 doctors, is sent there on behalf of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkokrn.
Dr Prat said the team would like to assist people living at the mouth of Irrawaddy River, the area severely hit by the cyclone, if the Burmese government permits.
snip
bangkokpost.com
..................................................
Thai medics in Myanmar prepare for humanitarian mission 
BANGKOK, May 16 (TNA) – The first team of Thai doctors left for Myanmar on Friday morning to prepare for their humanitarian mission before another team of the royal medical unit will start work on Saturday.
The Thai medical staff will be responsible for preparing accommodation, food, and other expenses for its own team. The team will return to Thailand late Friday.
snip
enews.mcot.net