In spite of the protests from the opposition and the difficulties being faced after cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, the military junta went ahead and conducted the referendum on May 101. Reports noted that the cyclone might have killed over 100,000 people. Among others, the United States, China, India, Russia, Bangladesh, Canada and Australia sent immediate aid. The US on its part promised an aid of $3 million while other countries urged the authorities to wave the visa restrictions in order to enable the aid workers to move into the country2.

• 1. “Constitutional referendum ends in Myanmar,” Xinhua, May 10, 2008, at http://mathaba.net/news/?x=591852
• 2. “US offers three million dollars in aid for Myanmar,” Associated Foreign Press, May 6, 2008, at http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hIm7p84dFBUFNVy5JQuNIL90lPzQ; “Myanmar's government comes under pressure over aid,” Euro News, May 8, 2008, at http://www.euronews.net/index.php?page=info&article=485453&lng=1