Junta Minister Donates To Get Support For Feferendum

Maung Dee

Tuesday, 22 April 2008 00:00

New Delhi - In a bid to win support for the draft constitution, Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win is alleged to have made a donation to a school in Zegone township of Pegu division north of Rangoon. Nyan Win reportedly donated 4 million kyat (USD 3636) for repairing of a middle school in Laedwinywa village in the township. Villagers are concerned the donation might be motivated. In the past, the foreign minister had seldom shown any interest in rural development. "If he was really interested in development in rural areas, he would have come earlier. It is obvious he wants the villagers to support the constitution and using the donation to get it," another resident of Zegone said. Residents in Zegone said, the Burmese Foreign Minister arrived on April 13 and visited several surrounding towns and villages urging local people and authorities to support the constitution. "He said, a long time has been spent writing the draft constitution, if we do not approve it now, more time will have to be spent writing another draft. So, he asked people to support it," a resident of Zegone told Mizzima. Nyan Win was appointed Foreign Minister in late 2004 after the death of the previous foreign minister Win Aung along with the junta's Military Intelligence Chief Khin Nyunt. He is reportedly a native of Kannyiako village in Zegone Township in Pegu division. Despite campaigns by the junta's minister, a local resident of Zegone town said copies of the draft constitution were made available only today at a price of 1000 Kyat (less than USD 1) per copy. "A 1000 kyat is still expensive for us, nobody could afford it. So, only a few will be able to buy the draft constitution," said a Zegone resident. < Prev   Next >