At 4.20 am of January 4, 1948, a time recommended by Burmese
astrologers, the Burmese flag is raised over Yangon and the country
formally gains its independence. U Nu, who has played
a significant part during the Burmese student revolts in the 30's,
becomes the first Prime Minister of the new state. But, within
the next few months Myanmar topples into chaos. Rebellions
of Communists and Muslim separatists in Arakan arise.
The Karen declare their independence from the Burmese state
on May 5, 1948, but are not acknowledged by the Burmese
government. Since that time the civil war between Karen and the
Burmese army keeps smoldering. Only in 1951 the government
under U Nu succeeds to gain a semblance of control over the country
by military means.
Internal conflicts inside the government party cause PM U Nu
in 1958 to order the Minister of Defense and Chief of the
General Staff of the army, General Ne Win, to create
a temporary military government.
Rebellions of the Kachin and the Shan in the North
of Myanmar reach a peak in 1961.
On March 2, 1962, Ne Win and a group of Generals seize
political power in a coup d'état. Numerous politicians
and delegates of the ethnic minorities, who at that time are present
in Yangon because of a conference to find peaceful solutions of
ethnic conflicts, are arrested. All parliamentary institutions
are dissolved and are replaced by a Revolutionary Council
consisting of 17 members.
In April 1962 the military government publishes a communiqué
titled The Burmese Way To Socialism in which Myanmar is
prescribed a cocktail of Marxism and Buddhism as state philosophy.
In 1972 Ne Win and 20 of his followers from the Burmese
army resign from their military posts and form a civilian government.
On January 3, 1974, the country is rechristened Socialist
Republic of the Union of Burma and a new constitution is validated.
The Burma Socialist Program Party, formerly founded by
Ne Win, is admitted as the sole political party. Party Chief Ne
Win takes the newly created post of Head of the state council
and becomes President besides.
In 1976 a coup d'état attempt by young officers
fails and is followed by numerous executions.
In 1981 Ne Win resigns as President of State, but remains
at the head of the Burma Socialist Program Party ... and thus
remains the man pulling the strings from the background.
Other Historical eras:
This page: http://www.cockatoo.com/english/myanmar/myanmar_history_independence.htm
