Burmese general election, 1960
Encyclopedia
Burma held its third general election on 6 February 1960 to decide which faction of the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League
(AFPFL) should take over from General Ne Win
's interim administration, established in October 1958. The military-led administration was credited for bringing stability and improving infrastructure in the country, though it suppressed some civil liberties
.
The election was seen as not so much a contest between former Premier U Nu
and associates against former colleagues U Kyaw Nyein and U Ba Swe
, but a referendum on the policies of the interim military government between 1958 and 1960. The "Clean AFPFL" faction led by former Premier U Nu won the election with a majority of seats. The communist
-orientated National United Front
(NUF) won no seats, compared to the 1956 election.
The election set a precedent to other Middle East
ern and South Asia
n leaders, where the military voluntary handed over to a civilian government and held free elections. However, two years after his election victory, Nu was overthrown by a coup d'état
led by General Ne Win on 2 March 1962.
Despite the formation of the two parties, there were no major ideological differences between them and their policies were similar, especially with regards to non-alignment
, although the "Stable" faction favoured industrialisation and the "Clean" faction spoke more of agricultural development. The "Stable" faction had given the impression it was favoured by the army, but, after realising the army was not as favoured as first thought, distanced itself. It had also argued it represented stability. Meanwhile, the "Clean" faction warned against the "dangers of facist dictatorship
", and criticised the current leaders for their "drinking and womanising". The communist NUF was severely repressed by the caretaker military government and was therefore outside the two main parties.
The Clean AFPFL chose yellow to campaign, as it was the colour worn by monks, while the Stable AFPFL chose red and the National Union Front chose blue.
in the capital Rangoon to hear results as they were posted. The "Clean" faction took all 9 seats in the capital including one they were prepared to concede, while the "Stable" faction had some strength in the countryside.
Media coverage of the event was restricted to print media only and vigorously covered, but was largely ignored by the state-run Burma Broadcasting Service which had not aired opposition coverage since before the AFPFL split.
Turnout was 66%, then the highest in a Burmese election. U Nu, remarking on his victory, said "I guess people like us".
Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League
The Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League , or hpa hsa pa la by its Burmese acronym, was the main political party in Burma from 1945 until 1962...
(AFPFL) should take over from General Ne Win
Ne Win
Ne Win was Burmese a politician and military commander. He was Prime Minister of Burma from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1974 and also head of state from 1962 to 1981...
's interim administration, established in October 1958. The military-led administration was credited for bringing stability and improving infrastructure in the country, though it suppressed some civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
.
The election was seen as not so much a contest between former Premier U Nu
U Nu
For other people with the Burmese name Nu, see Nu .U Nu was a leading Burmese nationalist and political figure of the 20th century...
and associates against former colleagues U Kyaw Nyein and U Ba Swe
U Ba Swe
Ba Swe was the second Premier of Burma. He was a leading Burmese politician during the decade after the country gained its independence from Britain in 1948. He held the position of prime minister from 12 June 1956 to 28 February 1957...
, but a referendum on the policies of the interim military government between 1958 and 1960. The "Clean AFPFL" faction led by former Premier U Nu won the election with a majority of seats. The communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
-orientated National United Front
National United Front
The National United Front was a political coalition in Burma, formed ahead of the April 1956 general election. NUF consisted of the Burma Workers and Peasants Party, the Justice Party led by Dr. E Maung, the People's Unity Party led by Thein Pe Myint, the People's Peace Front and other sectors. NUF...
(NUF) won no seats, compared to the 1956 election.
The election set a precedent to other Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern and South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
n leaders, where the military voluntary handed over to a civilian government and held free elections. However, two years after his election victory, Nu was overthrown by a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
led by General Ne Win on 2 March 1962.
Political parties
The "Clean AFPFL", led by U Nu, and "Stable AFPFL", led by U Kyaw Nyein and U Ba Swe, formed after a split in the main AFPFL party in April 1958. Until the military took over in October 1958, U Nu relied on the communists to retain a majority in parliament.Despite the formation of the two parties, there were no major ideological differences between them and their policies were similar, especially with regards to non-alignment
Neutrality (international relations)
A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...
, although the "Stable" faction favoured industrialisation and the "Clean" faction spoke more of agricultural development. The "Stable" faction had given the impression it was favoured by the army, but, after realising the army was not as favoured as first thought, distanced itself. It had also argued it represented stability. Meanwhile, the "Clean" faction warned against the "dangers of facist dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
", and criticised the current leaders for their "drinking and womanising". The communist NUF was severely repressed by the caretaker military government and was therefore outside the two main parties.
The Clean AFPFL chose yellow to campaign, as it was the colour worn by monks, while the Stable AFPFL chose red and the National Union Front chose blue.
Polling day
An estimated 10,000,000 Burmese were eligible to vote. The military largely stayed away on voting day, although it was present at some ballot boxes. Boxes for the "Clean" faction featured pictures of U Nu which the "Stable" faction and other smaller parties alleged confused the voter into thinking they were voting for Nu personally. Polls closed at 6pm and a crowd estimated at 20,000 gathered at the Sule PagodaSule Pagoda
The Sule Pagoda is a Burmese stupa located in the heart of downtown Yangon, occupying the centre of the city and an important space in contemporary Burmese politics, ideology and geography. According to legend, it was built before the Shwe Dagon pagoda during the time of the Buddha, making it more...
in the capital Rangoon to hear results as they were posted. The "Clean" faction took all 9 seats in the capital including one they were prepared to concede, while the "Stable" faction had some strength in the countryside.
Media coverage of the event was restricted to print media only and vigorously covered, but was largely ignored by the state-run Burma Broadcasting Service which had not aired opposition coverage since before the AFPFL split.
Results
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean AFPFL | 3,153,934 | 57.2 | 158 | New |
| Stable AFPFL | 1,694,052 | 30.7 | 41 | New |
| National United Front National United Front The National United Front was a political coalition in Burma, formed ahead of the April 1956 general election. NUF consisted of the Burma Workers and Peasants Party, the Justice Party led by Dr. E Maung, the People's Unity Party led by Thein Pe Myint, the People's Peace Front and other sectors. NUF... |
262,199 | 4.8 | 3 | |
| Arkan National Unity Organisation | 160,783 | 7.3 | 6 | 0 |
| Shan State United Hill People's Organisation | 6 | |||
| Kachin National Congress | 3 | |||
| Mon National Front | 3 | New | ||
| People's Educational and Cultural Development Organisation | 2 | |||
| Chin National Organisation | 1 | New | ||
| Kayah National Unity League | 1 | New | ||
| Kayah Democratic League | 1 | New | ||
| Independents | 16 | |||
| Vacant | ||||
| 13 | ||||
| Total | 5,513,895 | 100 | 250 | 0 |
| Source: The 1960 Elections Burma, Nohlen et al. | ||||
Turnout was 66%, then the highest in a Burmese election. U Nu, remarking on his victory, said "I guess people like us".