Mahn Ba Zan & the Karen Revolution

Me and the Great Leader Saw Ba U Gyi


By Mahn Ba Zan

BehGaYet village lies about 40 miles northeast of Bassein town, being one of the villages on the Bassein-Henzada railroad. The village comprises approximately two hundred homes, the majority inhabitants being Christian Karens. Saw Ba U Gyi was born in 1905 to BehGaYet villagers Saw Tha Mya Gyi and his wife.

British Educated Saw Ba U Gyi: Saw Ba U Gyi studied at Nichols Sgaw Karen High School, popularly known as Ko Tha Byu High School, situated in Bassein, until graduation. After finishing high school, he attended the Special English Education institution operated by Mr. Wedespoon at Moulmein, before he proceeded to Britain to study law. Later, Saw Ba U Gyi became a barrister. (Translator’s note: Ba U Gyi was said to have read law at Lincoln’s Inn.) While studying in Britain, he fell in love with, and married a British woman. They had a son and a daughter. After he obtained his law education, he returned to Burma with his family and took up residence at KahnThoneSeik quarter of Bassein. In addition to being wealthy, Saw Ba U Gyi was also an educated person. He was a handsome man, somewhat akin to a branch of roses that attracts every young woman.

How I came to Know about Saw Ba U Gyi: In 1938, I was a first-year Bachelor of Arts student at the Rangoon University. One day, I read a story in the Rangoon Gazette, an English-language newspaper in Rangoon. It was about the murder of a Sawbwa (princeling) in Thibaw territory of the Shan states. The case was about the Sao ThiHa, the nephew of the Sawbwa who was accused of killing the latter. SaoThiHa was defended by an unknown lawyer, Saw Ba U Gyi. It was Saw Ba U Gyi who successfully defended SaoThiHa, who was acquitted. Saw Ba U Gyi’s ability and status became prominent.

My personal Friendship with Saw Ba U Gyi: It was during World War II that began in 1939 when the Japanese took over Burma. In Lower Burma, because of the bullying tactics of the Super-Burman BIA (Burma Independence Army) troops, there was much armed conflict between the Burmans and the Karens. Such conflict was detrimental to the country and to the Karen people. After the Japanese occupied Burma in 1942, Dr. Ba Maw was appointed as the head of State, known as Adhipati, of a puppet government. In order to solve the Karen-Burman problem and promote the Karen-Burman amicability, Dr. Ba Maw organized the K.C.O. (Karen Central Organization) which included Saw Ba U Gyi, Saw San C. Po, Saw Ba Maung, Saya Tha Htoh, Mahn Ba Khin, Saw Pah Sa, and Dr. Saw Hla Tun. An organization was also formed to represent the government with members of Bogyoke (Major General) Aung San, Thakin Nu, Thakin Than Tun, and Minister P’Oh U Hla Pe. At that time, I was appointed as an Upper Division clerk in the office of Minister P’Oh U Hla Pe. Although my title was merely a clerk, actually, I was mainly a political associate of U Hla Pe. At that time, U Hla Pe was a great Karen-P’Oh national. In politics he had the ability to function in the same level of the Burmans. In the meetings to solve the Karen-Burman problems, he frequently took me along as an observer. Through U Hla Pe, I was introduced to Saw Ba U Gyi and came to know him personally. I began to be interested in Saw Ba U Gyi during those meetings.

Sao ThiHa’s case where Saw Ba U Gyi successfully defended him has stuck in my mind as a reflection in the mirror. Saw Ba u Gyi’s stern demeanor and practical contributions made me hold him in respect and high esteem. Because there came to exist such leaders among the Karens, we became more motivated to work for our national cause. Saw Ba U Gyi became our respected and desired leader.

The British reoccupied Rangoon on May 2, 1945. On the 26th of the same month in 1945, the KCO led a national conference for the Karen cause in Rangoon. I attended that conference as a representative of Ma-U-Bin district. At that conference, I was reacquainted with Saw Ba U Gyi, who asked me, “Hi Ba Zan, are you going to continue working for the government civil service?” I replied, “I am not interested in the civil service anymore. Since the nationality cause has become important, I have decided to work full-time for the nationality cause.” As though he anticipated this answer, Saw Ba U Gyi shook hands with me and said, “let us together work toward the cause of our nationality.”

Saw Ba U Gyi’s Leadership: During the June 1945, the K.C.O. conference, Saw Ba U Gyi was elected into the Central Committee. According to decision at the 1946 K.C.O. annual meeting, Saw Ba U Gyi was selected as a member of the Karen Goodwill Mission to Britain. During 1946, the strikes staged by Burmese opposition to the expansionists forced the resignation of the Governor Sir Dorman-Smith government, and Sir Hubert Rance formed a new government that included the representatives of the AFPFL (Anti-Fascist-People’s Freedom League). Saw Ba U Gyi was selected as a minister in that government.

Saw Ba U Gyi was not just a leader for the affairs of the Karen nationals, but also an effective leader for the affairs of Burma. From 1947, Saw Ba U Gyi and I worked together for the causes of the nationality. It was during that year when Saw San Po Thin and the KYO (Karen Youth Organization) members Mahn Ba Khaing, Mahn Win Maung, Saw Kyaw Sein, and Saw Sein Tin left the KNU. In the following emergency meeting of the KNU, Saw Ba U Gyi became the President, and I beamed the responsibility of Defense. Since Saw Ba U Gyi and I agreed on ideas and commitments, we were able to cooperate and make progress in our work. As I considered him a friendly and respected great leader, he also regarded me as a friend, comrade and co-combatant in our relationship.

Saw Ba U Gyi was a great leader of the revolutionary Karen people in the modern time. He was a person well acquainted and familiar with global perspective of ongoing situations. He possessed goodwill and affection to all nationalities, and was opposed to oppressive authority and parasitic chicanery. Saw Ba U Gyi believed and was committed to cooperative leadership and a centralized democracy system. In carrying out his work, it would be strategically strong, using various flexible techniques. In making decisions, he was apt to give them much thought and concentration, to avoid mistakes. The cause of the Karens cannot be gained by simply extending the hand with beseeching petition. He was convinced that only by armed struggle would we be able to obtain our objective. He truly exemplified a committed person with strong conviction.

Although highly educated and very wealthy, with honored and elevated status, he was not a pompous man. Saw Ba U Gyi could not be bothered by comestibles and attire. He lived like simple middle class folk. One day, in 1948, Saw Ba U Gyi, myself, Mahn James Tun Aung and Saw Hunter Tha Hmway arrived in TetPinDaing, a village in LaatButta subdivision of Myaungmya district, for a meeting to promote national unity. The following day there was a conference for the people of the surrounding region. Before the conference, there was an arrangement to have the Karen drum music and wreaths to be presented and hung around the necks of the leaders, to honor them on their way to the conference tent from the guest home that they were staying. The people expected that Saw Ba U Gyi, a Britain returnee, a great lawyer and Karen leader, would be splendidly dressed up like former British governors. Imagine their surprise when they found Saw Ba U Gyi attending the meeting, wearing only a sport shirt and khaki shorts.

Saw Ba U Gyi was a person who practiced simple living, but with lofty thinking and ideals. His was an unpretentious and honest demeanor. He would relate to, and communicate with, all fellow men as just people, regardless of their social status. He was sympathetic to others. He really sacrificed himself for his people. He was always looking out for the affairs of the tenants of his vast landholdings. He accepted only what they could afford as leasing fees. He was able to win his tenants’ friendship and loyalty. In working for our people, he focussed only on the people’s affairs, committing himself completely to this service.

In accordance with his profound commitment to the freedom of the Karen people, Saw Ba U Gyi was the one who had led a truly justified revolution. He was dedicated and loyal to the revolution. He calmly and bravely had guided the revolution through various perils and obstacles.

After the revolution began on January 31, 1949, Saw Ba U Gyi and other Central leaders that included myself, Saw Sankey, Sgaw Maw Lay, Saw Hunter Tha Hmway, Mahn James Tun Aung, and Saw Bellay, have gone through a lot of difficult problems in the Insein battle, and have gained much experience from them. The Insein battle of 1949 lasted until May 25th, a total of 111 days, when retreat from Insein was made. Because they could not endure the effects of the resistance battle, when Insein was given up, Mahn James Tun Aung, Saw Bellay and U Zan left the revolution cause. Saw Ba U Gyi, myself, Saw Sankey, Saw Hunter Tha Hmway and S’Gaw Maw Lay were left to lead the revolution. After withdrawing from Insein, we arrived at KyaInZaung village of Tantabin subdivision in Insein district. We conferred at that village and the leaders divided up our duties. Saw Ba U Gyi, Saw Sankey and S’Gaw Maw Lay would proceed to Toungoo to make that the Headquarters; I and Saw Hunter Tha Hmway were to take responsibility of the Delta region. August 12th, 1950, was a day of great loss and profound sorrow for our Karen people. That day, great leaders comprising Saw Ba U Gyi and Saw Sankey and party sacrificed their lives to the cause of freedom for the Karens at the hands of the enemy near Tokawkku village in Kawkareik subdivision. Saw Ba U Gyi passed away at the age of 45. He was able to carry out his duties in the armed revolution for just over one year.

The genuine leadership of Saw Ba U Gyi has given rise to the revolution for equitable freedom and progress of the Karen people. Saw Ba U Gyi has carried out the duties fallen upon him with distinction and success. The Karen revolution and the cause of freedom for the Karen people were initiated and established by him. It is submitted here that we should continue in the struggle to successfully fulfil his entire ideas and intentions (for our people)