Aung San (February 13, 1915 - July 19, 1947) was a Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, general, and politician.
He was born in the town of Natmauk, in the district of Magwe, in central Burma. His family was already known in the resistance movement, having fought the British annexation in 1886. He was educated at Rangoon University, and was soon elected to the executive committee of the university student union. He then became editor of Oway magazine. In1938, Aung San was elected president of both the Rangoon University Student Union and the All-Burma Students Union. In October 1938, Aung San moved from student politics to nationalist politics. He joined the Dohbama Asi-ayone organization (which translates as "We-Burmese"), and acted as their general secretary until August, 1940 and he helped organize the series of strikes that became known as the Revolution of Year 1300. He also helped to found another nationalist organization, Bama-htwet-yat Ghine (Freedom Bloc), and became its general secretary. However, the government issued a warrant for his arrest, and he had to flee Burma. He went first to China, and then on to Japan.
In February, 1941, Aung San returned to Burma, with an offer of arms and financial support from the Japanese government. He returned briefly to Japan, in order to receive military training, along with the Thirty Comrades. In December, he founded the Burma Independence Army in Bangkok, Thailand, with Japanese assistance. He became chief-of-staff and took on the rank of Major-General. In July, BIA was re-organised as the Burma Defence Army (BDA) and he remained its commander-in-chief. On August 1, 1943, the Japanese declared Burma to be an independent nation. Aung San was appointed war minister, and his army underwent another rename, to the Burma National Army. He became skeptical about their promises of true independence, and was displeased with their treatment of Burmese forces. In November, he conveyed a message to the British troops that he was planning to turn his forces against the Japanese. Later in August, he founded the Anti-Fascist Organization, and became its military leader.
On March 27, 1945, Burmese troops rose up against the Japanese and on June 15, they celebrated victory. The Anti-Fascist Organization was expanded and renamed the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League, or AFPFL. In January, 1946, Aung San became the President of the AFPFL. This followed the return of civil government to Burma. In September, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of Burma, and in effect, he was Prime Minister. On January 27, 1947, Aung San and Clement Attlee signed an agreement guaranteeing Burma's independence within a year. He had been responsible for its negotiation.
Two weeks later, Aung San signed the Panglong Agreement, with leaders from other national groups, expressing solidarity and support for a united Burma. During an Executive Council meeting on July 19, 1947, Aung San was assassinated, together with six other Councillors, including his elder brother, U Ba Win. He had died at the age of only thirty-two. On January 4, 1948, Burma gained its independence.
Aung San's daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi, is now the leader of the Burmese opposition to the current military regime. His place in history as the Architect of Burmese Independence and a national hero is assured both from his own legacy and due to the activities of his daughter. Aung San Suu Kyi was only two when her father died. Aung San's name had been invoked by successive Burmese governments since independence until the military regime in the 1990s tried to eradicate all traces of Aung San's memory.
http://bdcburma.org/
Loading...
9:01
General Aung San Or Our Hero.by thadarmay51,416 views
Link to this comment:
All Comments (0)