Special commissions, including members of the government-backed Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), are touring Burma informing local residents about the upcoming constitutional referendum, according to sources close to local authorities in upper Burma.

The mechanics of the referendum are being explained, often to villagers who show no interest in the procedure, a resident of Myinmu Township, Sagaing division, told The Irrawaddy on Friday. Many country people have no idea why the referendum is taking place, other residents said.

Local people are being told one polling station will be set up for every 1,000 voters. Voting will be by secret ballot. Special rubber stamps will be used, one bearing a tick mark to indicate approval of the draft constitution and one with a cross to be used to register a “No” vote.

A source close to the USDA said referendum sub-commissions would be in charge of taking ballot boxes to their offices and counting the ballots.

A Sagaing resident said local authority officials and USDA members had organized an information session for local residents last week at a religious hall where pilgrims normally gather for Buddhist rites. Apart from members of the USDA and other government-backed organizations, few people had turned up, however, the resident said.

The USDA is, meanwhile, undertaking a recruitment drive, offering financial incentives to join the organization. A resident of Chaung Oo, Sagaing division, said: “The organizers said the divisional level of USDA will advance newly registered members a loan of 50,000 kyat (US $38).”