Mahn Ba Zan & the Karen Revolution

Deputy Defense Commander, Maubin District

In 1943, the British made preparation for offensive operations to return to Burma. They dropped spies from the air by parachutes. During the year, Brigadier Orde Wingate led a special brigade-strength force for ‘long-range penetration’, comprising scattered company strength columns with troops of British, Indians, Karens, Kachins and Chins who had earlier evacuated with them to India, behind Japanese lines in the Chindwin valley, Bhamo and Myitkyina regions.

The Japanese had been well aware of the British preparations and began to establish defense units. The defense units were called ‘Jay-Tai’. It was at that time that Jay-Tai defense forces were organized in the town of Maubin.
During the Japanese regime, the Sessions Judge at Maubin was Saw Sein U and the Sub-Division Officer was Saw Shwe Sein. For the security (defense) of Maubin, there were two Burman platoons and a Karen Platoon, and at the request of the two officials mentioned in the above, he (Mahn Ba Zan) assumed responsibility as officer-in-charge of the Karen platoon.

While being responsible for the security and serving as defense platoon leader, he became acquainted with and a good friend of the District Defense Commander called Gottaw. Major Gottaw was Methodist Christian and had a Bachelor of Arts degree from the United States of America. About 30 years old, he was a very friendly and cultured person.

In the course of his friendship and cooperation with Major Gottaw and being responsible for the security of Maubin town, he was offered the position of Deputy Defense Commander of Maubin district and accepted it. He was then promoted to the rank of captain (Japanese ranking with the collar insignia of three lines and a star).

As Deputy Defense Commander, he toured Maubin district, giving speeches. He had to organize defense units in appropriate villages. In those days, there were Japanese military police forces known as the Kempeitai. They just pointed to the people they disliked or hated, and the latter would be liquidated. They were quite notorious for their evil deeds, and many Karens were killed.

According to Mahn Ba Zan, “The Japanese were fighting the British. We were for our nationality people. In the course of this work, I had become connected with the Karen mass to some extent. The Karen people also trusted and depended on me. Here, I began to gain experience in organizing and getting people united.”

By that time, Karen soldiers from the British Force 136, in which they made up the majority, were sent from India by air and parachuted into the Delta area, mainly to reconnoiter behind enemy lines. The more paratroopers were dropped, the more Karen villages got into trouble. There were arrests of suspicious persons, killing or torturing them ruthlessly. It was a desperate situation and after conferring with Major Gottaw, he made attempts to get the people freed. All his work to free them had been successful. He thus gained the friendship, trust, reliance and support from the Karen mass.
He served for one year as the Deputy Defense Commander in that Maubin district.