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©The Sunday Star (Used by permission)

KUALA LUMPUR: Protesters gathered in force near the Myanmar embassy here yesterday, in a show of defiance against the Myanmar junta’s go-ahead with yesterday’s constitutional referendum in spite of the country’s current turmoil.

Chants were shouted, urging for their fellow countrymen back home to vote “no” against the junta’s proposed constitution, which is deemed to be a watered-down roadmap to democracy.

The protesters represented the coalition of the Burma Ethnic Nationality Joint Force, which consists of seven ethnic Myanmar groups: KaChin, Karenni, Arakan, Karen, Chin, Mon and Shan.

Sea of red: Hundreds of Myanmar protesters demonstrating near the Myanmar embassy in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

They were also unhappy that voting had not been postponed in light of the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis which hit Myanmar week ago and left tens of thousands dead.

Curious onlookers caused traffic to come a standstill along Jalan Ampang as the sea of red-clad demonstrators, holding placards and posters, continued their chants near the embassy in Jalan Ampang Hilir.

However, police and Federal Reserve Unit personnel barred the protestors some 100m away from the embassy.

Seven representatives from the group later handed over a memorandum to an embassy official voicing their discontent.

They also spoke against the embassy’s refusal to approve travel visas for them to return to Myanmar to help provide aid to their people.

The crowd also took part in several minutes of silence and prayer before dispersing at 11am.

A second group representing various Myanmar political movements later gathered at the area, sparking off another spate of chanting.

Their memorandum was received by embassy secretary Michael Ayea.

The group dispersed by noon.

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