Myanmar's military junta pushed a referendum to secure its power while supplies for victims of Cyclone Nargis sat undelivered at the borders, officials said.

With shipments from the United Nations World Food Program undelivered, the junta Saturday pushed a get-out-the-vote campaign amid a widespread humanitarian disaster, The New York Times reported Sunday.

State-run media outlets showed military leaders distributing relief supplies and another broadcast featuring the lyrics: Let's go to cast a vote. With sincere thoughts for happy days. Let's go to cast a vote.

A precinct captain in one region said no one has information about what the constitutional referendum entails.

The government says vote, so we vote, he said.

The referendum puts 25 percent of the seats in parliament into the hands of the military, the Times said. Control over ministries and the ability to control the government in an emergency are also addressed in the measure.

Euronews.net said relief workers are still waiting for official visas and military officials in Myanmar are taking any aid that does arrive and stamping packages with government seals before distributing it.

Medical experts warn the risk of a major cholera outbreak looms from the lack of clean water and say large numbers of survivors are receiving no relief supplies.

Bookmark this news