Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
January 1948, at an auspicious middle-of-the-night hour, Burma became independent and
left the British Commonwealth.
Almost immediately, the new government led by U Nu had to contend with the com-
plete disintegration of the country, involving rebels, communists, gangs and (US-suppor-
ted) anticommunist Chinese KMT forces.
The hill-tribe people, who had supported the British and fought against the Japanese
throughout the war, were distrustful of the Bamar majority and took up armed opposi-
tion. The communists withdrew from the government and attacked it. Muslims from the
Rakhine area also opposed the new government. The Mon, long thought to be totally in-
tegrated with the Burmese, revolted. Assorted factions, private armies, WWII resistance
groups and plain mutineers further confused the picture.
In early 1949 almost the entire country was in the hands of a number of rebel groups,
and there was even fighting in Yangon's suburbs. At one stage the government was on
the point of surrendering to the communist forces, but gradually fought back. Through
1950 and 1951 it regained control of much of the country.
With the collapse of Chiang Kai-Shek's KMT forces to those of Mao Zedong, the
tattered remnants of the KMT withdrew into northern Burma and mounted raids from
there into Yunnan, China. But being no match for the Chinese communists, the KMT de-
cided to carve their own little fiefdom out of Burmese territory.
Following Ne Win's military coup in 1962, the country started closing off the outside
world, limiting foreigners' visits to just 24-hour visas, later extended to a week.
The First Military Government
By the mid-1950s the government had strengthened its hold on the country, but the eco-
nomy slipped from bad to worse. U Nu managed to remain in power until 1958, when he
voluntarily handed the reins over to a caretaker military government under General Ne
Win. Considering the pride most of the country had in the Burmese army, which had
helped bring independence, this was seen as a welcome change.
Freed from the 'democratic' responsibilities inherent in a civilian government, Ne Win
was able to make some excellent progress during the 15 months his military government
operated. A degree of law and order was restored, rebel activity was reduced and Yangon
was given a massive and much-needed cleanup.
According to Thant Myint-U, Ne Win's first period of government was 'the most ef-
fective and efficient in modern Burmese history'. Sadly, the same would not be true for
the general's second, much more extended, stint at Burma's helm.
