Kyaw Zaw facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brigadier General
Thray Sithu Kyaw Zaw
BC-3504
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| ကျော်ဇော | |
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| Born |
Shwe
3 December 1919 Hsaisu, Thonze Tharrawaddy District, British Burma
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| Died | 10 October 2012 (aged 92) |
| Nationality | Burmese |
| Other names | Thakin Shwe |
| Known for | Member of the Thirty Comrades |
| Spouse(s) | Than Sein |
| Children | Hla Kyaw Zaw San Kyaw Zaw Aung Kyaw Zaw Kyaw Zaw Oo (deceased) Tun Aye Kyaw Zaw (deceased) |
| Awards | Independence Mawgunwin (First Class) Thray Sithu |
Kyaw Zaw (Burmese: ကျော်ဇော; born December 3, 1919 – died October 10, 2012) was an important leader in Burma (now Myanmar). He helped create the modern Burmese Army, called the Tatmadaw. He was also one of the famous Thirty Comrades. This group trained in Japan to help Burma gain independence from Britain. Later, he became a leader in the Communist Party of Burma. He lived outside Burma, in Yunnan Province, China, after 1989.
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Early Life and Activism
Kyaw Zaw was born as Maung Shwe in a village called Hsaisu. This village was near Thonze in the Tharrawaddy District of British Burma. He went to school in the traditional way. This often meant studying at monasteries and sometimes becoming a young monk during the Buddhist lent season.
Later, he attended Pazundaung Municipal High School in Rangoon. There, he met teachers who were part of a group called the Dobama Asiayone. This group wanted Burma to be independent. These teachers helped him understand politics. Soon, he joined their youth group, the Yè tat (The Braves).
The 1938 Student Strike
In 1938, a big event happened called the Great General Strike. It was also known as the "Revolution of 1300" (after the Burmese calendar year). Kyaw Zaw was one of the student protesters. On December 20, they successfully protested at the Secretariat. This was the main building for the British government.
As the students celebrated, British mounted police charged at them. The police hit students with their batons. One student, Aung Kyaw, was killed. Kyaw Zaw saw this happen and was slightly hurt by a horse.
Becoming a Freedom Fighter
After the strike, Kyaw Zaw joined the Dobama Asiayone. He took the name Thakin Shwe. He went back to Thonze and became a schoolteacher. But he kept working for Burma's independence. He helped organize and train local groups.
In 1941, Kyaw Zaw was recruited by the Thakin leaders. They wanted him for military training. In April 1941, at age 21, Kyaw Zaw joined a special group. This group became known as the Thirty Comrades. They secretly left Burma on a ship to Yokohama, Japan. From there, they flew to Hainan Island, China. They received military training there.
In December 1941, they returned to Burma. They came with the Japanese Army as the Burma Independence Army (BIA). Their leader was Aung San. Thakin Shwe was now known by his new name, Bo Kyaw Zaw. "Bo" means "Commander."
Military Career
After Burma became independent in 1948, Kyaw Zaw became a famous commander. He fought against the Kuomintang. These were Chinese soldiers who had fled China after the Communist victory in 1949. They set up bases in Burma. The United States supported the Kuomintang.
From 1953 to 1955, Brigadier General Kyaw Zaw led the Burmese Army. He pushed the Kuomintang out of Burma into Thailand. Between 1954 and 1955, he also led a successful fight against the Karen National Union (KNU). This helped the government control the Karen State.
During this time, U Nu was the Prime Minister. General Ne Win was the Army Commander in Chief. In 1949, Kyaw Zaw was hurt during the Battle of Insein. A piece of metal hit his leg. This was when the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) attacked Rangoon. Ne Win put Kyaw Zaw in charge during this difficult time. Kyaw Zaw said this battle was the hardest of his military career.
Retirement from the Army
In April 1957, Brigadier General Kyaw Zaw had to leave the Army. This happened because some papers were found. These papers suggested he might have contacted Communist rebels. An investigation looked into the matter. It found that there was enough evidence to suspect his role. So, he was discharged from the Army. He had joined the Communist Party in 1944. He was elected to their Central Committee the next year. However, he did not join the Army rebellion led by Communist commanders in 1948. At that time, he was recovering from an illness.
Life as a Civilian
After leaving the Army, Kyaw Zaw tried to become a member of Parliament. He ran as an independent candidate in the 1960 election but did not win. In April 1963, the Revolutionary Council (RC), led by General Ne Win, invited different rebel groups for peace talks. These talks were held in Rangoon.
During these talks, Kyaw Zaw actively supported the People's Peace Committee. He worked with another respected leader, Thakin Kodaw Hmaing. Many armed groups came to Rangoon for the talks. The government promised them safe passage, and they kept that promise. The Communist Party of Burma (CPB), also known as the "White Flag" Communists, sent a group. Another group, the "Red Flag" Communists, also joined.
Most of the peace talks failed in June 1963. The rebel groups were allowed to return to their bases. Kyaw Zaw was not arrested after the talks failed. However, many other politicians and writers were arrested. They were suspected of supporting Communists. They were jailed for several years without trial.
A Communist Leader
In 1976, the government announced that Kyaw Zaw's son, Aung Kyaw Zaw, and daughter, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, had disappeared. Days later, the Communist Party of Burma (CPB) radio station announced that "former Brigadier Kyaw Zaw has arrived in the liberated area." This meant he had joined the CPB.
Kyaw Zaw then spoke on CPB radio. He asked people, especially soldiers, to join the CPB. He reminded them that he was one of the founders of the Burmese Army. He criticized Ne Win, who was then the President and dictator. Kyaw Zaw said that Aung San and other Thirty Comrades had once thought about removing Ne Win from the military. They felt Ne Win showed "fascist" tendencies. Kyaw Zaw said this plan failed because Ne Win was "cunning."
He urged government troops not to serve Ne Win. He said the Army's history, like fighting the Japanese, was linked to his own life. He used examples like China and Indochina (where Communists had recently won). He asked soldiers not to hesitate to join the "armed revolution" led by the CPB.
However, very few soldiers joined the CPB because of Kyaw Zaw's call. The CPB itself almost collapsed in 1989. This was mainly due to internal rebellions by ethnic groups like the Wa and Kokang.
In May 1980, Ne Win's government offered an Amnesty. Many opponents of Ne Win's rule returned to Burma. But Kyaw Zaw did not. In 1982, Ne Win spoke about the Thirty Comrades. He briefly mentioned "Bo Kyaw Zaw - the one that left or ran away."
During the 8888 Uprising in 1988, some claimed Kyaw Zaw encouraged Aung San Suu Kyi to enter politics. His daughter, San Kyaw Zaw, was also said to be involved.
Later Years and Legacy
After almost ten years living outside Burma, Kyaw Zaw, at age 78 in 1998, asked for talks. He wanted a discussion between the ruling military government and opposition groups. This included the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi. He believed the Burmese people's fight for a good government was not over. He felt they needed to "struggle for themselves bravely, without stopping, and together."
Kyaw Zaw was one of only two surviving members of the Thirty Comrades at that time. The Thirty Comrades were a group of Burmese men who secretly left Burma in 1941. They were trained by the Japanese and returned to Burma with the Japanese Army in 1942. In Bangkok, on December 26, 1941, most of them took a special pledge. They drew their blood and poured it into a silver bowl. Each drank from it, promising "eternal loyalty" to each other and to Burma's independence. Among them were Thakin Aung San (who became Bo Tayza), Thakin Shu Maung (who became Bo Ne Win), and Thakin Shwe (who became Bo Kyaw Zaw). Kyaw Zaw was one of the youngest.
Kyaw Zaw's memories were published in 2007. The book was titled "From Hsaisu to Menghai." Many people saw him as one of only three military leaders in Burma's history who were like teachers to ordinary soldiers. The other two were Aung San and Tin Oo.
Death
Kyaw Zaw passed away on October 10, 2012. He died at a hospital in Kunming, China. He was 92 years old. He was survived by two daughters, one son, and seven grandchildren. His last wish was to visit the famous Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon one more time.
