1.
LS. RANGOON WITH SULE PAGODA IN THE BACKGROUND.
2 1/2 ft

2.
LS. CITY HALL WHERE COUNTING OF VOTES WILL TAKE PLACE.
6 1/2 ft

3.
LS. TRISHAWMEN ON ROADSIDE.
8 1/2 ft

4.
CU. U NU TALKING TO PRESSMEN.
11 1/2 ft

5.
MLS. U NU NEAR POLLING BOOTH.
14 1/2 ft

6.
MS. PHOTOGRAPHERS.
16 1/2 ft

7.
MS. U NU COLLECTING BALLOT PAPER.
20 ft

8.
LS. PARTY HUT FOR SUPPLYING REFRESHMENTS, ETC.
22 1/2 ft

9.
MS. GIRL PARTY HELPERS.
25 ft

10.
CU. U KYAW (PRON CHAO) NYEIN, FORMER MINISTER AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF STABLE AFPEL.
28 ft

11.
MR. & MRS. U KYAW NYEIN INTERVIEWED BY PRESSMEN.
32 ft

12.
CU. POSTER - MARRIAGE BETWEEN "MR. CLEAN" AND "MISS REBEL" (COMMUNIST), ALLEGING COLLUSION BETWEEN THEM.
33 1/2 ft

13.
CU. ANOTHER POSTER - MISS BURMA SEDUCED BY "CLEAN" REBEL REPRESENTED AS MONK - ALLUDING TO CLEAN ATTEMPTS TO WOO MONKS.
36 ft

14.
MS. MONKS COMING OUT OF MONASTERY.
41 ft

15.
MS. MONK.
43 1/2 ft

16.
MS. MONKS IN SCOOTER-TAXI.
46 1/2 ft

17.
MS. VOTERS AT POLLING BOOTH.
49 ft

18.
LS. QUEUE AT POLLING BOOTH.
53 ft



Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE QUIET AND PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE OF RANGOON HIDES THE GREAT POLITICAL EXCITEMENT AS THE COUNTRY GOES TO POLLS ON FEBRUARY 6 TO ELECT A NEW GOVERNMENT.

THE THIRD ELECTION IN THE COUNTRY SINCE ATTAIN INDEPENDENCE IN 1948 HANDS POWER BACK TO CIVIL AUTHORITY AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF OF ARMY RULE UNDER ABLE GENERAL NE WIN.

THE ELECTION IS BEING HELD IN 288 CONSTITUENCIES FOR THE 250 SEATS IN THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES (LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT). SIX CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN RETURNED UNOPPOSED AND ELECTION IN 16 CONSTITUENCIES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED FOR SECURITY REASONS. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT INSURGENT ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA MADE FREE AND FAIR ELECTION'S IMPOSSIBLE.

EARLY ESTIMATES SAID THAT 65 PERCENT OF THE NEW MILLION VOTERS HAD EXERCISED THEIR FRANCHISE.

THE ELECTION IS MORE OR LESS A STRAIGHT CONTEST BETWEEN THE "CLEAN" AND THE "STABLE" FACTIONS OF THE SPLIT ANTI-FASCIST PEOPLES FREEDOM LEAGUE (AFPFL).

THE CLEAN FACTION LED BY FORMER PRIME MINISTER U NU HAS ??? CANDIDATES, WHILE THE "STABLE" FACTIONS HEADED BY FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER U BA SWE, 221.

JUDGING BY RECENT LOCAL ELECTIONS IN WHICH "CLEAN" AFPFL SCORED HEAVILY, POLITICAL OBSERVERS GAVE CHANCES OF VICTORY TO U NU'S FACTION. HIS PROMISE TO MAKE BUDDHISM THE STATE RELIGION IS LIKELY TO INFLUENCE VOTING IN THIS NATION WHERE EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IS BUDDHIST.

"STABLE" AFPFL ACCUSES THE OTHER FACTION OF BEING IN ALLIANCE WITH THE COMMUNISTS, BECAUSE MANY BRANCHES OF THE EXTREME LEFT-WING NATIONAL UNITED FRONT, WHICH WON 45 SEATS IN THE 1936 ELECTIONS, HAVE JOINED UP WITH THE "CLEAN" FACTION. THE FRONT HAS FIELDED 136 CANDIDATES BUT THEIR ELECTIONS WERE CONSIDERED "SLIM".

THE INTERESTING FEATURE OF THE BURMESE ELECTION IS THAT THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME IN RECENT HISTORY THAT AN ARMY ADMINISTRATION HAD SURRENDERED WILLINGLY TO THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES.

THE ELECTION IS BEING HELD IN A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF POST-WAR BURMESE HISTORY- THE COUNTRY'S SHATTERED ECONOMY HAS VASTLY IMPROVED ITS ADMINISTRATION WERE MORE EFFICIENT AND THE BORDER DISPUTE WITH CHINA HAS BEEN AMICABLY SETTLED.