SEA; BURMA Flashcards
What political structure did Burma adopt upon independence
liberal democracy
What was the decolonisation proces like?
peaceful but traumatic
How did Britain help in the decolonisation process?
Political tutelage present before 1945
they regularly held general elections in Burma (5 elections before independence)
How did the Japanese Occupation affect Burma?
Japanese helped form Burma Independence Army and trained key nationalist leaders (Aung San)
How was the AFPFL formed?
Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League
In 1944 the Japanese were losing and Aung San switched sides to support the British, formed the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL) in 1945 -It was a coalition of nationalist groups including the communists
What happened when the British returned after WW2?
The nationalist leaders resisted and forced the British to decolonise
When did the communist party of Burma (CPB) leave the AFPFL?
1946
When did AFPFL win the general elections?
April 1947
What is the ethnic composition of Burma?
Majority:
Burman People (Buddhists): 34 million
Minority:
Shan people (Buddhists): 4-6 million
Karen people (Christian): 3 million
Kachin people (Christian): 1 million
Chin people (Christian): 500k-1.5million
Mon people (Buddhist): 1 million
Arkanese people (Buddhist): 2 million
most minorities had been given political autonomy during british rule
Majority Burmans were not allowed tp join the British Army in Burma; only minorities allowed
What are some of the efforts taken by Aung San to reconcile with the minorities?
pacify them :)
Feb 1947: signed the Panglong agreement with the Shan, Kachin, Chin people–> gave them full autonomy in internal administration and the right to secede in 10 years
When was the Aung San-Attlee agreement?
Jan 1947
What was the Aung San-Attlee agreement?
To ensure independence for Burma in the following year
When was Aung San and other political elites assassinated ?
July 1947
Implications of the assassinations on the Panglong agreement
spirit of the Panglong agreement violated
other members of the AFPFL not on board with giving minorities so much freedom
British used the minorites to crush nationalist uprisings
this brewed feelings of contempt and resentment towards the minorities
How did the British rule
They followed the principle of ‘Divide and Rule’ they deliberately emphasised the difference in people and purposely used it to sow discord
When did they gain independence?
Jan 1948
Which was ruling party and it was under whose leadership?
AFPFL led by U Nu
Why did Burma adopt liberal democracy upon independence?
1) Adequate political tutelage
2) Western educated leaders
3) Suited Burma’s plural ethnic makeup
Communist and ethnic seperatist threat
1948-1949
CPB, Karen and Mon seperatist groups began armed rebellion
rebels collaborated and were close to seizing control of Rangoon (capital)
developments from the 1952 to the 1956 elections
AFPFL vote share dropped
Factionalism within the AFPFL
1958
AFPFL split into 2; clean AFPFL (led by U Nu) vs stable AFPFL
Military caretaker government (beginning)
October 1958 U Nu steps down as the PM, invited Ne Win (military commander) to form a caretaker govt and organise next elections and there was little opposition due to the role played by the military in the decolonisation process
What did the military do to consolidate power during the period of ‘caretaker government’
Achieved relative success in quelling communist rebellions; 1955- CPB began negotiations to end the rebellion
relative success in quelling ethnic rebellions- the military fought back successfully againd=st Karen nationalists + martial law in Shan State in 1952
Successes of the military
Success of the U Nu govt from 1948-1958 associated with/ credited to the military
Success by the military in reducing corruption and crushing revolts
Military organised election held in
Feb 1960 and won by Clean AFPFL (union party)
Purpose of the military rule
Facilitate the conduct of democracy
When was the democracy resumed?
1960-1962
Issues that arised after democracy was restored
Further infighting within the union party
U Nu proposed to make buddhism the state religion which further alienated minorities
Promised Mon and Arkanese people statehood as part of 1960s elections but delayed this and this caused the minorities to harbour feelings of mistrust and anger towars the govt
When did the military take over the government
March 1962
How did the military take over power?
U Nu and other civilian leaders arrested
Reasons for the end of parliamentary democracy
1) Belief that democracy as a political structure was incapable of dealing with ethnic insurgencies (by 1960s, Shan state urging for secession)
2) Hence, military rule was necessary for the survival of the Burmese nation
Formation of Revolutionary Council of Burma
1962-1974
chaired by Ne Win and other military leaders and ruled by decree
Rangoon university protests
July 1962 the protests were crushed more than 100 were dead and 6000 were arrested
How did the military consolidate power?
constitutional processes
April 1962 :decleration of Burmese way to Socialism-official state ideology: transform Burma into a socialist, equal society
Burmese socilaist Progamme Party launched in July 1962, led by Ne Win and the military was the sole legal party in Burma till 1988
1974 constitution removed revolutionary council promise of elections (1974, 1978, 1981 and 1985) BSPP won 100% of the seats
How did the military consolidate power?
Use of force (ethnic rebellion)
Response to continued ethnic rebellion: refusal to adopt federal system
Dissolved ethnic state councils and fired ethnic chief ministers, to be replaced by military commanders
Ineffective; minorities never gave up- Karens and Kachins amongst others continued to resist in the 1970s and 1980s
How did the military consolidate power?
Use of force (threat of communism and student movements)
Went after CPB’s leadership- Captured Thakin Soe
Effective; CPB never a political threat+ support from the PRC waned in the 1970s
1974 protests; U Thant funeral crisis- military government refused to give U Thant (UN secretary general) a state funeral, sparking student protests which led to large scale riots in Rangoon
Ne Win used the military to crackdown on the protests, declared martial law -Thousands arrested and many killed
Effective; but only short term- no long term solution to underlying happiness
How did the military consolidate power?
Traditional instituitions
Ne wIn and Buddhism- saw buddhist monks as a threat than a partner
Burmese Way of Socialism–Supposedly tapped on buddhist values of frugality and rejection of capitalism
1960s; series of policies to control monks
Early 1980s; military govt leaked details of affairs involving buddhist monks
Monks often criticised military regime’s use of force (1988 and 1990s)
What was the impetus for the 8888 Protests
The massive hyperinflation after Ne Win’s disastrous economic policies led to student unrest from march to July 1988
How was Ne Win’s position affected by the 1988 protests?
Ne Win forced to resign in July 1988, promising a multi-party democratic system. He urged the citizens to not protest
BSPP accepted Ne Win’s resignation but not recommendations
Who came into power after Ne Win?
Sein Lwin was put in power
hugely unpopular due to his role in suppressing student protests in
1962 and 1974
What happened after Sein Lwin was appointed as the leader?
His refusal to democratise led to massive country-wide protests in August 1988
Military reacted with deadly force, killing hundreds to tens of thousands of civilians. 12 Aug; Lwin forced to resigned, BSPP promised elections again but protests continued
What happened in Sept 1988?
Military took over and abolished the 1974 Constitution, ruling by decree. Formed the state law and order restoration council (SLORC)
How did the military regain control?
By end 1988–Martial law was declared and continued use of force against protestors
SLORC argued that it was merely restoring order for democratic elections to be held
1990 general elections
True to its world, SLORC organised a general election on 27 May 1990
results;
National unity party ( BSPP)-2.3% of the seats (10)
National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyii (campaigned on a federal state system)-92.2% of seats (392)
SLORC cancelled the results of the election and refused to allow parliament to convene, citing that doing so would break up the country
Aung San Suu Kyi placed under house arrest since 1989, was not released
