BURMESE CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

Early day motion 1578, tabled 15 May 2008 by Stephen Crabb (Conservative). Signed by 72 members.

That this House condemns the announcement by Burma's ruling junta that a new constitution was given overwhelming backing in a referendum carried out on 10th May in the midst of the catastrophe caused by Cyclone Nargis; notes that the draft constitution has been designed to entrench military rule in Burma and is opposed by pro-democracy groups within Burma; is appalled that the regime continued with the planned referendum even as thousands of Burmese men, women and children were dying in the devastated Irawaddy Delta region; dismisses the claims by the generals that voter turnout was 99 per cent. and that the constitution was approved by more than 92 per cent. of all eligible voters; again calls on the junta to release all political prisoners inside Burma including Aung San Suu Kyi; and encourages the Government to continue working with international partners to overcome the resistance of the regime in Burma to a full international humanitarian effort to bring relief to the cyclone survivors.

Signatures by party: Labour 34, Conservative 19, Liberal Democrat 12, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Independent 2, DUP 1, UKIP 1.