“The military junta forged ahead yesterday with a constitutional referendum intended to cement its power after a campaign of arm-twisting and intimidation, even as it continued to restrict foreign aid shipments to survivors of last week’s devastating cyclone. The junta is refusing to grant entry to foreign aid workers that relief officials say are crucial to preventing further deaths from disease among an estimated 1.5 million victims. By yesterday, the military had not released two UN World Food Program aid shipments that arrived Friday, according to a spokesman for the program.” (05/11/08)