Election of constituent assembly. The Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League(AFPFL), founded in World War II in opposition to cooperation with the Japanese, was headed by U Aung San and received an overwhelming majority.
U Aung San had been the single political figure capable of bridging differences between the various warring political factions: he had the allegiance of the army, the trust of the Communists, and the support of the various ethnolinguistic communities, who in the preindependence “excluded areas” had remained relatively unaffected by colonial Burma's nationalist politics and modern economy. The assassins were tried and executed (May 8, 1948).
The new constitution was adopted by the constituent assembly, and Sao Shwe Thaik, the sawbwa (ruler) of Yawnghwe (one of the largest of the Shan states), was elected provisional president.
