Burma (see also Thailand)

About 2,500 Burmese nationals held demonstrations in Singapore’s Burmese embassy on 27 April to express dissatisfaction and protest against the constitutional referendum being pushed by Burma’s military government.  This is just one of the many demonstrations which have been held by thousands of Burmese nationals all over the world.  The protests were launched at several embassies in Canada, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. 

Burmese citizens, including political activists, migrant workers and refugees gathered at these embassies to demand the right to vote and to protest against the rule that only citizens with legitimate passports and documents can vote overseas.  The rule by the Burmese government excludes most political exiles and refugees.  Reports have surfaced on many Burmese nationals who were turned away by officials during the voting, which has already begun in some countries ahead of the May 10 referendum.

Source: Saw Yan Naing and AP, “Overseas Burmese Protest Constitution,” The Irrawaddy, 28 April 2008