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Aung San & WWIIMore famous in the West as Aung San Suu Kyi’s father, Bogyoke (General)Aung San is revered as a national hero by most Myanmar peopleand his likeness is seen throughout the country. Aung San Suu Kyi, whowas only two when he died, called him ‘a simple man with a simple aim:to fight for independence’.Aung San was an active student at Rangoon University; he edited thenewspaper and led the All Burma Students’ Union. At 26 years old, heand the group called the ‘Thirty Comrades’ looked abroad for support fortheir independence movement. Although initially planning to seek analliance with China, they ended up negotiating with Japan and receivingmilitary training there. The ‘Thirty Comrades’ became the first troopsof the Burmese National Army (BNA) and returned to Burma with theinvading Japanese troops in 1941.By mid-1942 the Japanese had driven retreating British–Indian forces,along with the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT), out of most of Burma.But the conduct of the Japanese troops was starting to alienate theBurmese. Aung San complained at Japan’s 15th Army headquarters inMaymyo (now Pyin Oo Lwin): ‘I went to Japan to save my people whowere struggling like bullocks under the British. But now we are treatedlike dogs.’Aung San and the BNA switched allegiance to the Allied side in March1945. Their assistance, along with brave behind-enemy-lines operationsby the 'Chindits', an Allied Special Force, helped the British prevail overthe Japanese in Burma two months later. Aung San and his colleaguesnow had a their chance to dictate post-war terms for their country.Post-Colonial BurmaTowards IndependenceIn January 1947, Aung San visited London as the colony’s deputy chairpersonof the Governor’s Executive Council. Meeting with the BritishPrime Minister Clement Attlee, a pact was agreed, under which Burmawould gain self-rule within a year.A month later, Aung San met with Shan, Chin and Kachin leaders inPanglong, in Shan State. They signed the famous Panglong Agreementin February 1947, guaranteeing ethnic minorities the freedom to choosetheir political destiny if dissatisfied with the situation after 10 years. Theagreement also broadly covered absent representatives of the Kayin,Kayah, Mon and Rakhaing.In the elections for the assembly, Aung San’s Anti-Fascist People’sFreedom League (AFPFL) won an overwhelming 172 seats out of 225.The Burmese Communist Party took seven, while the Bamar opposition,WWIISites inMyanmar» Start of BurmaRd, Lashio, NorthernMyanmar» Taukkyan WarCemetery, Northof Yangon» ThanbyuzayatWar Cemetry,Mon State» Meiktila, CentralMyanmarArmed ForcesDay (27 March)commemoratesthe Burmesesoldiers’ resistanceagainst theJapanese army inWWII.299HISTORY POST-COLONIAL BURMA1857Mindon Min movesUpper Burma’s capitalfrom Inwa to a newlybuilt city at the footof Mandalay Hill, thusfulfi lling a purported2400 year-oldprophecy by Buddha.JOHN ELK III/LONELY PLANET IMAGES ©1862Bahadur ShahZafar, the lastemperor of India,is exiled with hisfamily to Yangon,which the Britishcall Rangoon. Hedies in 1858, and isburied in secrecy.» Kuthodaw Paya (p 210 ); built by Mindon Min in 1857