YANGON —

Myanmar’s junta held a referendum on a new constitution on Saturday, ignoring calls from the opposition and from around the world for its postponement in the wake of a devastating cyclone that may have killed as many as 100,000 people and left as many as a million homeless.

Polling stations opened at 6 a.m. and closed at 4 p.m. and vote counting was underway at some stations. But it was not clear when the final results of the referendum would be announced.

Meanwhile, the United Nations on Saturday sent its first land convoy of emergency aid into cyclone-hit Myanmar, crossing over from neighboring Thailand to bring tents and plastic sheets to some 10,000 people made homeless by the disaster.

‘‘This convoy marks a positive step in an aid effort so far marked by challenges and constraints,’’ Raymond Hall, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees representative in Thailand, was quoted as saying in a UNHCR statement.

‘‘We hope it opens up a possible corridor to allow more international aid to reach the cyclone victims,’’ he said.

The UNHCR’s two-truck convoy carrying 4,600 plastic sheets and some 200 tents crossed hitch-free into the Myanmar town of Myawadi from the Thai town of Mae Sot in the early afternoon after a brief exchange of papers at the Friendship Bridge border.

It was received on the other side by UNHCR staff members who will follow the convoy on the two-day drive to Yangon. There, the supplies will be handed over to Myanmar officials to be distributed under UNHCR monitoring.

More than 1 million people are estimated to have lost their homes and as many as 100,000 are feared dead.

International criticism has been mounting over the junta’s response to the cyclone disaster, with top U.N. officials warning of worsening misery for survivors and the spread of diseases unless the junta eases restrictions slowing the delivery of international aid.

© 2008 Kyodo News. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.

11 Comments

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  some14some at 07:28 AM JST - 11th May

  Bold move amid cyclone of complaints from international community. So, what is USA/UN going to do? invalidate election results and impose further sanctions on Myanmar junta?

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  illsayit at 08:30 AM JST - 11th May

  Nice bold move.

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  USNinJapan2 at 08:57 AM JST - 11th May

  some14some

  So, what is USA/UN going to do? invalidate election results and impose further sanctions on Myanmar junta?

  No, just continue to send badly needed aid to the suffering people of Myanmar, which evidently is too much to ask of their own government.

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  Jyan_Bon at 09:54 AM JST - 11th May

  It is patently obvious that to hold the planned constitutional referendum at this time would be an adventure into the utmost absurdity. To attempt to conduct the poll under such circumstances would go far beyound the description of a farce that had already been attached to it, and into the realm of the unreal.To expand the energy of gov. officers on that exercise rather than the needs of the populace at this critical time would nothing but demonstrates to the entire world the implausibility of the so-called government and everything upon wich it pretends to stand.Thus UN and those around the world have rightly called for the referendum to be put off and get on with the job of restoring some basic security and dignity to the lives of millions.

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  Triumvere at 12:58 PM JST - 11th May

  A complete farce.

  And do they really think that slapping think that slapping the gererals' names on missappropriated food aid will fool anyone?

  Another article claimed that shipments of rice exports from Burma were still going ahead, despite the crisis.

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  realist at 02:55 PM JST - 11th May

  The country`s proper name is BURMA. I refuse to call it Myannmar. This was an undemocratically-imposed name chosen by the evil military dicators of Burma. Their action in imposing a ridiculous referendum on the people of Burma when the people are suffering so much, is outrageous. The sooner this evil junta is overthrown, the better for the good people of Burma and the world.

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  capone at 04:57 PM JST - 11th May

  some14some..there are other countries in the world besides the US...you're starting to sound like rjd-jr

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  madammiz at 05:14 PM JST - 11th May

  This is just plain sad!

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  some14some at 05:16 PM JST - 11th May

  capone: perhaps you overlook UN in my post...pls, for heaven's sake don't compare me with nationalist(s), I am a person with rational view.

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  rtrhead1 at 06:25 PM JST - 11th May

  You're right, you did put the UN in there. Pretty much as an afterthought, but you did put it in there.

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  ca1ic0cat at 08:57 PM JST - 12th May

  the junta can proceed with the poll because they pretty much have it rigged to support the outcome they want. Who needs a population for a rigged poll?

  The other thing is that you can pretty much forget the US & UN. As long as ASEAN is providing comfort and support for the junta they aren't going to change.

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