ATTITUDE OF THE BURMA COMMUNIST PARTY AND THE COMMUNIST PARTY (BURMA) TOWARD THE CURRENT GENERAL ELECTIONS IN BURMA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R008000830001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 20, 2000
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 22, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

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Approved For Rele 6T ~( - -00457F Orb( $
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
SUUB..JEC' Attitule of the Burma Communist Party and the
Communist Party (Burma) Toward the Current
General Elections in Burma"
PLACE
ACQUfRE?
DATE. OF.
FO.
25X1X
25X1A
A t~. f~ of the Burma C mist Party BC P
country entitled r A i 1n Connection with the meal Elegy j ones
The instructions point out that the elections are to be.-held under An
i'perial.ist-"capitalist-land lord regime which is incapable of fulfi .'in-g..
the asnirations of the people. The Party'-s duty in connection with the'-
elections is twofold. On the one hand, the elections n .st be atta a d, by
widespread propaganda which will reveal to the people the fact that t icy
constitute a maneuver to stabilize imperialist-capitalist-landlordism in
Burma and an effort to side-track the revolutionary tendencies among the
neonle. On the othi hand, in those areas dominated by Thakin W's
military forces in which the Party cannot prevent the holding of the-
elections, the electiona themselves must be exploited in the best interests
of the revolution., 77~t
DATE DISTR. 22 AUG 51
ISO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS,
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
I., The BCP has issued a secret directive to Its branches throughout the
2,s The following methods are to be employed:
as Party members and sympathizers who have not had to go undergrow?d
mct contest the elections.
b. Su?)port must be given to organizations contesting the elections
which are prepared to accent the leadership of a party whose program
is similar to that of the BC P', 2
By these means the BCP hopes to got Party men into Parliament. At the same
time efforts will be made to inspire irarious sympathetic organizations to
agitate for the unconditional rcleass'?t persons detained under Section 5
of the Public Order Preservation Act and for the withdrawal of armed forces
from all areas in which elections are being held,3
LUI&Rk o f o st DartV (Bur,) C P B
3, The question of Party policy during the current general elections was recently
discussed by the CP(B) In view of . the fact that a majority of the general
public favor the elections the CP(B), although ovnosed to the elections in
principle, have decided to suspend all offensive operations during the
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S}B.,",T/(;O ifROL - U. S . O "3 IC IA LS "(3~ 25X 1 A
elections, This attitude is annarently aimed at persuading the public
that the CF(B) is in favor of the elections, and would itself have con-
tested had the Government acceded to its demands to lift the ban on the
Party.
The C ?(B) pro nosed to support candidates put uri by the Burma :'orkers and
Peasants Party (Wi??) .herever the latter was opposed to candidates of
the Anti-Fascist Peopleis Freedom League (AF"FL).4
25X1 Al a Cc+r~G . elections were held in eighty-two constituencies
on 12 and 19 June in areas under Government control. No candidates
have been identified as having been strongly aro-DC?. The B"1PP have
thirty candidates contesting, 7itch anoroxittaately half of the returns
in, they BiPP have won three seats?
25X1X2o-Comm a?tit% An independent report states that a secret under-
standing has been reached between the BC? and the BWYPP, and that the
I3CP has instructed its district organizations concerned to support
D"g?' candidates, There has, however, been no confirmation that an
understanding has been reached between the two parties although it is
known that the BC"' has nominated representatives to open negotiations,,
25X1L, Correnlt. A nossible ulterior motive in inspiring agitation for
the withdrawal of armed forces from areas in which elections are to be
held is to leave the way free for an offensive by Paopleb Benocratie
Front (IMP) insurgents. The theme is a nonular one, for all of the
opposition parties, whether "rightist or leftist", have been alleging
that the Government party, the AFPFL, will use the armed forces at
their disposal, both regular and irregular, to Influence the elections
in their favor ,?
25X14, Comment, Although the DC P and the C?(F3; have agreed to support
Bcandidatese , it Is evident that there has been no coordination in
the 'respective policies. CP(B) policy harks back to their propaganda
campaign during the first half of 1950, .?hen they attempted to persuade
the Government to lift the ban on the Party and permit it to contest
elections. This policy found no favor with the BOP. This point of
difference in policy follows on Thakin SOZ's recent criticism of the
BCP?s revolutionary, policy and disciplinary methods.. > hould this
divergence of views increase, the present collaboration between the two
parties it military operations is likely to cease,
25X1A
Co: nt., Thakin SOE's criticisms of BV policy have been
reported. in
25X1A
SECRET/COAJTROL - U. S. OFFICIALS 0.sLY
Approved For Release 2001/03/06 : CIA-RDP`82O0457R008000830001-5