Myanmar gives Rohingya voting rights, backtracks immediately

Hundreds of thousands instead hold temporary identity papers known as white cards.

On Tuesday, a bill was enacted with a clause that would give white card holders the right to vote in a proposed referendum on the country’s constitution.

The move prompted protesters, including many Buddhist monks, to take to the streets of Yangon Wednesday, demanding that the law be revoked.

“You played the white card stupidly,” read one protester’s banner.

In its present form it allocates a quarter of parliamentary seats to the military, which ruled the country for nearly half a century.

READ MORE: Why is Aung San Suu Kyi silent on the Rohingya question?

READ MORE: Rohingya ‘not welcome’

CNN