Apprehension On Poll

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31152, 31 August 1966, Page 13

Apprehension On Poll

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright)

LONDON, Aug. 30.

About half the eligible 5,000,000 South Vietnamese are expected to vote in the general elections, less than a fortnight away, “The Times” correspondent in Washington reported yesterday.

The election will be watched anxiously by the American Administration which realises that much is at stake politically and psy-

chologically, for America, In spite of the size of its military effort.

“However frail the campaign and weak the electors’ voice, this is the South Vietnam peoples’ best chance since the rigged Diem election to express their feelings," the correspondent said. The keen desire of the Communists to make the election a failure is obvious. Radio Hanoi and the clandestine Viet Cong station are broadcasting that “the people will smash the elections of the United States puppet regime.” As voting day nears, measures are being taken against widespread terrorist campaigns against candidates,

voters, and the electoral machinery. American reporters have been distressed by the vague speeches and the lack of popular interest, but the South Vietnam Prime Minister, Air Vice-Marshal Ky, is taking the election campaign seriously. More than 500 candidates are running for the 117 seats in the constituent assembly, grouped in 52 constituencies. There are about 60 military men, the rest being civil servants and provincial councillors elected in local elections last year. About 60 Communists, “neutralists” and others were excluded. About half the constituents have direct voting, the rest proportional representation which will work against the Buddhists, whose leaders have called for a boycott of the election.

Guarding of polling stations

has been ruled a Vietnamese responsibility, but it is unlikely that American troops would not act if the Viet Cong attacked electors.