The media’s increasing obsession with ‘national disintegration’ is playing into the Myanmar junta’s hands and threatening progress toward peaceful federalism.
The author loosely played with the historical facts here.
Quote:
“Let’s start with the origins of Myanmar Army. The ethnic composition of the army at independence in 1948 was reflected in its battalions: Burma Rifles, Karen Rifles, Kachin Rifles, Chin Rifles, and Burma Regiment (Gurkhas). These were later grouped into two wings – a first wing composed mainly of ethnic Burmese led by General Ne Win, and a second composed of ethnic minorities (ie, Chin, Kachin, Karen), according to political scientist Zaw Thein. Gradually, General Ne Win purged the ethnic minority leaders when he “restructured” the army. By the time of the 1962 coup, ethnic minorities had gone underground – making way for ethnic Bamar to take over the entire military institution.”
At the time of the independence, the Burmese guerilla revolutionary army that was formed in Thailand and the British-trained ethnic armed forces from colonial Burma were merged into a single combined armed forces. Remember that they were FOES not long ago. And almost from the outset after independence, the ethnic divisions revolted. Some of the “Burman” guerillas also revolted into various left-wing communist armed guerillas fighting the newly independent country. By 1962 when Ne Win took over in a coup, the country had long been waging a heated civil war for more than 10 years where Rangoon almost fell to Karen guerillas who were the former Karen Rifles.
There were few Burmans in British colonial police and armed forces. It was mostly comprised of minority ethnic groups as the British did not trust the Burmese but favored the christian ethnic minorities.
The author loosely played with the historical facts here.
Quote:
“Let’s start with the origins of Myanmar Army. The ethnic composition of the army at independence in 1948 was reflected in its battalions: Burma Rifles, Karen Rifles, Kachin Rifles, Chin Rifles, and Burma Regiment (Gurkhas). These were later grouped into two wings – a first wing composed mainly of ethnic Burmese led by General Ne Win, and a second composed of ethnic minorities (ie, Chin, Kachin, Karen), according to political scientist Zaw Thein. Gradually, General Ne Win purged the ethnic minority leaders when he “restructured” the army. By the time of the 1962 coup, ethnic minorities had gone underground – making way for ethnic Bamar to take over the entire military institution.”
At the time of the independence, the Burmese guerilla revolutionary army that was formed in Thailand and the British-trained ethnic armed forces from colonial Burma were merged into a single combined armed forces. Remember that they were FOES not long ago. And almost from the outset after independence, the ethnic divisions revolted. Some of the “Burman” guerillas also revolted into various left-wing communist armed guerillas fighting the newly independent country. By 1962 when Ne Win took over in a coup, the country had long been waging a heated civil war for more than 10 years where Rangoon almost fell to Karen guerillas who were the former Karen Rifles.
There were few Burmans in British colonial police and armed forces. It was mostly comprised of minority ethnic groups as the British did not trust the Burmese but favored the christian ethnic minorities.