As the reported death toll in Myanmar stands at 100,000, the country's military junta is kicking cyclone refugees out of shelters to turn them into polling places, while the state-owned TV is broadcasting feel-good propaganda meant to encourage citizens to vote "yes" on a referendum aimed at strengthening their 40+ year rule. (Not that it's likely that many of the devastated starving and homeless Burmese are sitting around watching TV at the moment...) Meanwhile, aid from the Red Cross and countries around the globe is being seized by the military and re-distributed to the junta higher-ups, as well as to polling places in a defacto "blankets-for-ballots" exchange. The military are also vainly trying to plug up news leaks to the global community by harassing the on-site international press. -- KT(Click on post title for Time's story.)
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