S. VIETNAM POLL ON SEPTEMBER 11

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31091, 21 June 1966, Page 15

S. VIETNAM POLL ON SEPTEMBER 11

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright)

SAIGON, June 20. South Vietnam’s ruling military junta has fixed General Elections for September 11, but it is believed that the electoral law will enable the junta to retain power until the autumn of 1967.

The official Vietnam press agency said today that the head of state, Lieu-tenant-General Nguyen Van Thieu, signed the electoral law yesterday, the first anniversary of the military regime.

Under the law, which has not yet been published, the elections will be for a 108-member “constituent assembly.” This will draft a national constitution, which South Vietnam lacks at present, and then be dissolved, the agency said. The junta has made a number of important changes in the draft for the electoral law, which was drawn up last month by a civilian committee of lawyers and representatives of different political and religious factors. Some of the changes tend to lessen the chances of increased political influence by the Buddhist Unified Church, which plans to boycott the election unless the leading generals resign. Drafting Role In particular, the new law omits the committee’s recommendation that the constituent assembly should have some legislative powers, which might have allowed it to proclaim itself a fullyfledged parliament and eject the junta.

It decrees that the assembly will draft and approve the constitution during a period of six months, and that the national directory must “establish the nation’s institutions” within three to six months from the date of its promulgation. Second Round The Prime Minister, General Nguyen Cao Ky, has already said publicly that he foresees a second round of elections some time next year for a legislative assembly and that his regime will remain in power until then. This could mean that an

elected civilian government will not take office until the autumn of 1967, which was about the date which General Ky announced last January before the start of the Buddhist campaign for a quick return to civilian rule.