Pyithu Wundan Hmu
Civil Service Officer, Maubin District
* *(Pyithu Wundan actually has been translated as Civil Defense, and Naingngan Wundan as Civil Service - by U Maung Maung in his book “Burmese Nationalist Movements 1940-1948” – Kaskadale Publications, 1989. - page 51 – Translator’s note )
In 1944, The Dr. Ba Maw government established the Civil Service Department. The functions of the department were to benefit the people, as well as organizing and uniting them. The department had offices in all the districts. The Karens in the districts also had their own Welfare offices.
The District Civil Service Officers were:
(1) Saw Ba Zan - Maubin District
(2) Saw Maung Nyein - Bassein ,,
(3) Mahn Nyein Tin - Myaungmya ,,
(4) Saw Morgan Win - Henzada ,,
(5) Saw San Tun - Tharawaddy ,,
(6) Saya Saw Ba Tun - Toungoo ,,
(7) Saw Shay Thaat - Pegu ,,
(8) Mahn Paul Aye Nyein - Hanthwaddy ,,
(9) Saw Bo Thoh - Pyapon ,,
These were appointed as Civil Service Officers for Karens (or Karen Affairs Officers) in the respective districts.
When the Civil Service Offices were organized, Minister U Hla Pe was asked to work in that department. His job was to organize the people and nationalities, to unite them, and to make it a well functioning department. He consulted with Major Gottaw and resigned his position, and accepted the duty of the District Civil Service Officer.
After having been appointed District Civil Service Officer, he had to undergo training for three months at Cabin Island center of Inya Lake in Rangoon. About the Civil Service Department, President Mahn Ba Zan wrote:
“The establishment of this Civil Service (Defense) Department had something to do with the Japanese Intelligence activities.
“It was about that time that I came to find out about the Burmans’ intention of revolting against the Japanese, their A.F.O. (Anti-Fascist Organization), their establishment of underground resistance. This organization included the Communist Party, Pyithu Ayaydawbone (roughly People’s Rebellion) (Socialist) and the B.D.A. (Burma Defense Army) headed by Major General Aung San. They said that they would fight the Japanese, and issued pamphlets and declarations.”
After the training course, he toured the district countryside and organized the Karen people. Those units organized for village defense during his term as Deputy Defense Commander were also secretly alerted.
They were told to be on the ready since the Burmans were on the verge of resistance against the Japanese. The B.D.A. troops were all scattered all over the country prior to March 27, 1945. The 3rd Battalion of the B.D.A. was responsible for the Delta area. The commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion was Major Tun Sein (PyaGyi), and the second in command was Timothy Po Gyaw. The majority soldiers in this battalion were Karens
This battalion came to the town of Maubin. He became close friends with Major Tun Sein (PyaGyi).
Major Tun Sein needed assistance, “Hey Ba Zan, we are going to fight the Japanese. I need your help. You must be responsible of organizing the people and tell them to hide our troops.” Thus, all the soldiers were scattered and hidden in the surrounding various villages.
Resistance against the Fascists was begun on the 27th (of March) with the cooperation of the troops of the B.D.A., the Karen Defense Units, and the people in Nyaungdoan, Maubin, Einmeh and Pantanaw areas, all united in the armed engagements. The disordered and demoralized Fascist Japanese troops suffered death at the hands of the people.
The Delta was cleared of the Japanese. The British entered Rangoon on May 4th , and by June and July, they reoccupied the Delta. Since the British had been able to take over the entire country, his District Civil Service Officer position came to an end.
Livelihood during the Japanese regime included:
* Upper Division Clerk at the Secretariat
* Deputy Defense Commander, Maubin district
* Civil Service Officer, Maubin district,
thus having gone through various careers.
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