Mahn Ba Zan & the Karen Revolution

Mahn Ba Zan in Service During the Japanese Regime

During World War II, Japanese Fascists and the Burmese Freedom Block allied themselves and took over Burma in 1942. The Burmese Freedom Block consisted of:

1. Dr. Ba Maw and his Sinyetha (Poor People) Party.
2. DoBama Asiayone (We Burman Association) – the amalgamation of the Burma Communist Party; PyithuAyayPaw (Countrymen Ad Hoc Party); MyetKan Myochit Party (Sightless Patriotic Party).

That Block was to unite with Japan in armed engagement to fight to achieve Burma’s independence. As soon as the authority of Independence was obtained, the Japanese were to leave Burma. The Japanese on their part was using the Freedom Block to make all of Asia their colony.

With that intent (and agreement), the Freedom Block allied itself with the Japanese and took over Burma. The Fascist Japanese violated that agreement and continued to govern Burma.


As an Upper Division Clerk in the Secretariat

After the Japanese occupied Burma, they appointed Dr. Ba Maw as Premier, and let him form a puppet government. The puppet government meant:

1. no authority, just a puppet form of government;
2. they have to support and feed those in authority (the Japanese);
3. They had to acquiesce to the Fascist Japanese.

In Dr. Ba Maw’s government were:

1. Dr. Ba Maw
2. Major General Aung San
3. Thakin Nu
4. ThakinThan Tun
5. U Ba Win
6. PyawBweh U Mya
7. P’Oh U Hla Pe
8. Bandoola U Sein

P’Oh U Hla Pe served as Minister of Commerce and Industry in the Dr. Ba Maw puppet that was formed in July, 1942.

One day, Mahn Ba Zan met Mahn Po Wey who was Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and through him, he was introduced to U Hla Pe, who appointed him an Upper Division Clerk in that Ministry. However, it was not just the upper division clerical work that he was doing; there were also other functions that he had to take care of. Those extra functions involved:
Writing up articles on Karen-Burman harmony and unity, and having these out to the press;
Attending conferences of the KCO and Dr. Ba Maw’s government representatives.

At that time, a project of Dr. Ba Maw’s puppet government was the harmonious relationship between Karens and Burmans. The reason for that project came into being was because in Kawkareik and Papun regions, and in the Myaungmya district of the Delta, the BIA troops bullied and misused their weapons and power, attacking, robbing and killing Karens, including former Minister Saw Pe Tha and his British wife, thereby bringing about terrible carnage and pogrom between Karens and Burmans.

This great communal fighting and slaughtering was particularly and enormously ugly for Burma. It was an exceedingly serious problem. The problem could exacerbate the hatred between nationalities.

To achieve understanding between the Burman and the Karen-
In order to eliminate hatred between nationalities, in cooperation with the said government, the Karen Central Organization, the K.C.O., was formed. The leaders of that central organization were:

1. Sir San C. Po
2. Mahn Ba Khin
3. Mahn Shwe Tun Kya
4. Saw Ba U Gyi
5. Saya Tha Htoh
6. Mahn Pone TaLoke
7. Dr. Saw Hla Tun
8. Saw Ba Maung
9. Saw Pa Hka



With the cooperation and coordinating efforts between the K.C.O. and the Dr. Ba Maw government, the enormous Karen-Burman conflict was brought to an end. During the joint meetings, U Hla Pe brought Mahn Ba Zahn along, which greatly broadened his experience.
He began to develop more patriotic as well as nationalistic spirit.

The government side was represented by U Hla Pe’s group of:

1. Major General Aung San
2. Thakin Than Tun
3. Thakin Nu
4. P’Oh U Hla Pe



In allowing him to attend the joint meetings, it was also to nurture cadres
Among the Karen nationals to take responsibility of Karen problems.

When Minister U Hla Pe was transferred to take up the portfolio of Forest Ministry, he resigned his yearlong position of Upper Division Clerk and returned to live in Maubin.