KUALA LUMPUR: Some 2,000 Myanmar workers gathered in front of the Myanmar Embassy and handed over two memoranda protesting the referendum on the country's new constitution.

The two-hour peaceful rally, which began at 9.30am, saw the Myanmars arriving in two batches from Jalan Ampang before they were stopped by members of the Federal Reserve Unit.

Police had since early morning cordoned off several roads leading to the embassy at Jalan Ru, off Jalan Ampang Hilir, and stationed FRU trucks at the United States Embassy nearby.

Some of the Myanmars wore traditional clothes while others wore red headbands and T-shirts emblazoned with the word "No".

They co-operated with police throughout the protest and waited patiently at the blockade before police allowed several representatives to approach the embassy to hand over the memoranda.
They also said prayers for those who perished when Myanmar was ravaged by cyclone Nargis.

The first group to hand over a memorandum were members of the Burma Ethnic Nationality Joint Force, which is a coalition of seven ethnic groups in Myanmar.

The second group comprised members of four political parties - the NLD-Liberated Area, the Arakan League for Democracy, Zomi National Congress-Liberated Area and Democratic Party of New Society.