BURMESE POLLS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25765, 29 March 1949, Page 5

BURMESE POLLS

COMMUNIST PARTY’S THREAT “WILL WRECK ELECTIONS’’ RANGOON, March 27. The Burmese Communist Party has announced that it will wreck the proposed General Election with “all the force at its command.” Political leaders believe that guns, grenades, knives, and daggers will play a big part in any election campaign. The present disorders may prevent an election for a long time, although to-morrow was originally fixed as election day. The rebel forces control at least 14 of Burma’s 35 political districts, and disturbances continue in all of them. Under Burma’s new constitution, an election must take place within 18 months of the country’s independence from Britain, which was granted on January 4, 1948. The Government has added four members to its three-man Election Commission in an effort to meet the deadline of July 4 for the poll. The commission will invest ; gate the extent of the disturbances, determine the number of districts affected, and recommend whether an election should be held.

If a further postponement of the election is necessary, the Constitution will have to be amended to allow the present Government under Thakin Nu to remain in office as the legal body.