Myanmar Draft Constitution Approved

Myanmar's draft constitution has been approved with an overwhelming votes cast in favor by 24,764,124 or 92.48 percent of turn-out voters, in the nationwide referendum held for two rounds during this month, the state TV reported Monday quoting an announcement of the Commission for Holding Nationwide Referendum.

The number of the turn-out was 26,776,675 or 98.1 percent out of eligible voters of 27,288,825 in the whole country.

The number of voters who voted against the constitution were 1, 631,712, while canceled votes went to 380,839.

There is a total population of 57,504,368 in the whole of Myanmar and the ballot castings were held in 325 townships.

The first round of the referendum was held on May 10 across the country except the 40 townships in Yangon division and seven townships in Ayeyawaddy division under cyclone-hit areas status.

The second round took place on May 24 in the 47 remaining townships in cyclone-hit divisions.

According to the draft constitution, the constitution draft can be ratified with the majority votes-in-favor out of the votes cast by over 50 percent of eligible voters.

The 194-page 15-chapter 2008 Republic of Union of Myanmar Constitution was drafted by a 54-member State Constitution Drafting Commission in accordance with the detailed basic principles laid down by the National Convention.

The referendum on the new constitution draft constitutes the fourth step of the military government's seven-step roadmap announced in 2003. The remaining steps are to hold a multi-party democracy general election in 2010 to produce parliament representatives and form a new civilian government to which power is to be handed over by the military.