NE WIN'S TATMADAW DICTATORSHIP By Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe B.A., University of Rangoon, 1961 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Department of Political Science) We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA April 1990 (c) Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe, 1990 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of British Columbia, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for reference and study. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the head of my department or by his or her representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Department of Political Science The University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada Date 27 April 1990 DE-6 (2/88) i i ABSTRACT This thesis examines the nature of Burma's military regime which came to power in March 1962, and which has portrayed itself, somewhat successfully until 1988, as a regime which has constructed a "Burmese" socialist political order in Burma. Though this self-image was more or less accepted by many observers, there nonetheless could be detected in writings on the regime some degree of scholarly unease regarding the nature of the regime stemming from its many glaring failures not only in economic management, but also in arresting political decay which has transformed Burma into a poverty-stricken, debt-ridden, and almost pre-modern authoritarian polity. This thesis is an attempt to provide a less particularistic explanation of the regime, to show that such a regime is not unique, and that the downward slide of Burma can be understood with reference to existing theories and concepts derived from the study of Third World politics and conditions. Accordingly, the anti-colonial "nationalist" movement in Burma, the Dobama Asiayone of the Thakins, and the various Dobama "armies" which became the national armed forces, the Tatmadav, and the underlying historical and socio-economic and political conditions are re-examined and analysed within the theoretical framework of comparative Third World politics. The thesis argues that the leaders who led the Tatmadaw to the summit of power in 1962 were not modernizing military leaders, but were foremostly politicians in military garb whose agenda was shaped by parochial Burman ethnonationalism, a peculiar kind of anti-foreign "Burmese" socialism, and the myth of their triumph over powerful foreign opponents — the British and the Japanese. The thesis examines the military regime -- Ne Win's Tatmadaw dictatorship -- and endeavors to explain the paradoxical configuration, subsequent to the military seizure of power, of a strongly autonomous and highly coercive state in Burma, on the one hand, and the clear evidence of political and economic decay (stemming from the regime's poor performance and/or capacity), on the other hand, from the perspective of Third World politics. The explanation is framed in terms of Ne Win's personal rulership; the transformation of the Tatmadaw, on which the state and the regime is based, into a patrimonialized personal instrument of the patrimonial ruler, Ne Win; the subsequent general and widespread erosion of the integrity of various institutions; the undermining of legal-rational norms; and the increasing reliance of Ne Win and the regime on the use of terror to maintain power as its legitimacy waned over time, and the corresponding greater degree of disengagement of society from the control and perview of the state. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ii Acknowledgements v Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations vi Chapter I THE INTRODUCTION 1 (a) The Problem: Background (b) The Problem: Propositions and Thesis Structure Chapter II THE NATURE OF MILITARY RULE IN BURMA 15 (a) The Military as a Political Super-star (b(c) The MilitarNature yo fo Militarn Center-stagy Rule e in Burma: Approaches Chapter III THE MILITARY IN POLITICS: THEORETICAL GUIDELINES 51 (a) The Praetorians vs Praetorianism (b) A Theoretical Look at Praetorian Societies (c) Conceptualizing Third World Politics and Rulership (d) An Overview of Third World State-Society Relations Chapter IV THE TATMADAW TO THE SUMMIT 91 (a) Premodern Burma: The Kingdom of Warrior-Kings (b) Colonialism and the Transition to Modernity (c) The Thakins' Tatmadaw and the Creation of A New Burma (d) The March Forward of Bo Ne Win and the Tatmadaw Chapter V CONSOLIDATION AND MAINTAINENCE OF POWER 136 (a) "We Will Kill Everybody and Rule the Earth" (b) Power, Magical Rites, and Sorcerers (c) Dobama Socialism: The Neutralization of Dobama Rivals (d) Ne Win: The Construction of a Patrimonial Pyramid of Power (e) Manipulating and Controlling the Military Ahmudans (f) Suppressing the Society: Fear, Atrocities, and Firepower (g) Regime Longevity: The External Factor Chapter VI THE TATMADAW DICTATORSHIP: EVALUATION AND CONCLUSIONS 183 (a) A Conceptual View of Politics in Burma (b) An Evaluation (c) Concluding Observations BIBLOGRAPHY 210 V ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank Don Blake and Paul Tennant for accepting me into the graduate program, and their encouragement. John Wood has not only been a great teacher, but has made me more mindful of the relevance of theories in the political dramas of the Third World. I also remember R.S. Milne encouraging me to pursue, without reference to "higher authorities", concepts and theories I thought were relevant. Many thanks to Kal Holsti and Phil Resnick for their valuable time, comments, questions, and suggestions as thesis committee members. I especially thank Diane Mauzy, my thesis advisor, for her friendship, patience, insight, advice, her considerable time and effort, and her many timely interventions to keep me from jumping off what she calls the "theoretical deep-end", and also from overlooking the insights gained from my life-long involvement in Burma politics. I owe special thanks to the Northwest Regional Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies and its Co-Director, Terry McGee, for a Ford Foundation grant which enabled me to do some research in Washington D.C., and in other ways, broaden my horizons. I would also like to acknowledge all Burma scholars, in particular, Josef Silverstein whose interest and concern have resulted in insightful works on Burma. Many thanks to fellow- exiles for accounts of the dark side of the regime, and special thanks to Bertil Linther and Bob Maule for their assistance. And finally, my thanks to my wife for her support, without which this thesis could not have been written. VI Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations Aba -- Father, a patriarch (Burmese) ABPO — All Burma Peasant Organization, an affiliate of the AFPFL ABSU — All Burma Student Union ABYL -- All Burma Youth League AFO -- Anti-Fascist Organization, the forerunner of the AFPFL AFPFL -- Anti-Fascist Peoples Freedom League Ahmudan — A class of serfs owing labor and military service to the kings of ancient Burma, who were organized into "regiments" and segregated from the rest of the population. In current usage, it denotes all servants of the state Ah-na -- Power, political power (Burmese) Akaukwun -- Tax or toll collector in ancient Burma A-myo-tha -- National (adjective) Atet-lan Saya -- Sorcerer of the Upper Sphere (a practitioner of White Magic) Atwinwun -- Royal secretary in ancient Burma Auk-Ian Saya -- Sorcerer of the Lower Sphere (a practitioner of the Black Art) Awza -- Influence and authority (Burmese) Azu — A regiment (or a unit) of Ahmudan in ancient Burma Bama Lu-myo -- The Burman ethnic group Bama Pyi — The Burman kingdom Baung-bee Choot -- Former military men serving in the regime's state-party apparatuses, or involved in politics; literally, "those who have taken off their trousers" Bayin-gan -- Viceroy BCP -- Burmese Communist Party, the White Flag communists BDA -- Burma Defence Army Bedin Saya -- Astrologer Beelat-pyan -- One who has studied in England, an England- returnee BIA — Burma Independence Army BNA -- Burma National Army Bo -- Military leader. Also a term used for male Europeans, especially Britons in colonial Burma Bogyoke-Wungyi — Generals/Ministers, i.e., active or former top brass holding cabinet posts in post-1962 Burma BSPP -- Burmese Socialist Programme Party Chao-fa, Sawbwa — Ruling prince, "Lord of the Sky" (Shan/Thai/Lao); Sawbwa is the Burmese pronounciation of the term, Chao-fa CPB — Communist Party of Burma, or the Red Flag communists CSMB — Civil Supplies Management Board vi i Daw — Literally, Aunty. A prefix before a name of a female person; a term of respect (Burmese) DDSI -- Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence Dee-Mye -- Stable AFPFL led by Ba Swe anf Kyaw Nye in Dobama, Dbama Asiayone -- The "We Burman" movement of Burman ethnonationalists, the Thakins DSI -- Defence Services Institute Duwa — Kachin ruling chief "Em-Eye" -- A term by which the Military Intelligence (MIS) is popularly and generally known FTO — Federation of Trade Organizations, an affiliate of the AFPFL Gaung-baung -- A silk headgear worn by Burman men on formal occas ions Gon -- Prestige, an aura of superiority (usually based on wealth or possession, and social status) Gon-theika — An aura of moral uprightness and integrity IDC -- Industrial Development Corporation JVCs — Joint-Venture Corporations Ka-bya -- Eurasian; Anglo-Burman or Anglo-Indians Kappali Lu-myo — Africans;