The Burmese celebrate their Independence Day on January 4, 1948. Burma was a part of India from 1826 until it became a self-governing unit of the British Commonwealth, complete with a constitution, on April 1, 1937. This page was last edited on 7 August 2020, at 05:07. Burma fought for independence from Great Britain in the late 1940s under the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League led by Aung San, U Nu, and Ne Win. Churhchill said "the British Empire seems to be running off almost as fast as the American Loan". The Bill which would become the Act was approved on 5 November 1947 by a vote of 288 in favour with 114 against. that, generally, British subjects whose status as British subjects was due to a connection to Burma, would cease to be regarded as British subjects on 4 January 1948. The independence movement was a pro-Burman, anti-British, and anti-foreign movement that emphasized Burmese values, symbols, and experiences. The Act received the royal assent on 10 December 1947. Traditional Burmese society was drastically altered by the demise of the monarchy and the separation of religion and state. It was the first post-colonial army in Burmese history. [1] He explained that its purpose was to give effect to the will of the peoples of Burma as expressed by their elected representatives that their country should become an independent State, should cease to be part of the British Commonwealth of Nations and should no longer form part of the King's Dominions. 1957 The Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), an ethnic rebel organization, was founded by Saw Maw Reh. Though war officially ended after only a couple of weeks, resistance continued in northern Burma until 1890, with the British finally resorting to a systematic destruction of vil… Churchill also said there were "grave doubts that the assent of the frontier tribes has been honestly and genuinely given" to the new constitutional arrangements.[6]. A pious Buddhist and a former schoolteacher, U Nu (both words are pronounced to rhyme with "woo") was prominent in the movement that led to Burma's independence from Britain in 1948. A series of meetings between UK and the Burmese leaders followed too. Winter 2020 Intersession: Final Date to.. UCA dedicates itself to academic vitality, integrity, and diversity. Majesty's dominions and not entitled to His Majesty's protection, and for consequential and connected matters. Burma’s Struggle for Autonomy In June 1945, Burmese soldiers fought with the British to expel Japanese invaders from Burma during World War II. HC Deb 5 November 1947 vol 443 cc1836-9611836, Burma independence documents from the Burma Library, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Burma_Independence_Act_1947&oldid=971608452, Independence acts in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom concerning India, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. (Wikimedia Commons) Independence of Burma The British departure from India in 1947 made their remaining colonies in South Asia redundant. He resigned from the Legislative Assembly and was arrested for sedition. It achieved full independence as the Union of Burma on January 4, 1948, and in 1989 officially changed its name to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Pyidaunzu Thanmăda… The British governor, Hubert Elvin Rance (left) and Burma’s first president, Sao Shwe Thaik, stand at attention as the new nation’s flag is raised on January 4, 1948. [3], The Prime Minister also provided Parliament with an overview of the historic relationship between the United Kingdom and Burma. With its economy shattered and its towns and villages destroyed during the war, Burma needed peace. A foreign policy of neutrality was decided upon, but, because of internal strife, no peace resulted. The Burma Independence Army (BIA) was a collaborationist and revolutionary army that fought for the end of British rule in Burma by assisting the Japanese in their conquest of the country in 1942 during World War II. He criticized U Saw, who had been interned during the War, in similar terms. He expressed his government's regret that Burma had chosen not to become a British Dominion and instead would leave the Commonwealth. Further, the Japanese repressed the Rohingya for their pro-British stance. Britain agreed to the eventual independence of Burma within the British Commonwealth on May 17, 1945. Recognition of Burmese Independence, 1948. Because of Aung San's ability to reason with the British, they left without a revolution like ours against the British in 1776. The United States recognized the Union of Burma as an “independent sovereign state” on January 4, 1948, when President Harry S. Truman sent a congratulatory message to President Sao Shwe Thaike, Saopha of Yawnghae.Burma had previously been a part of the British Empire and in January 1947, Burmese political leaders reached agreement … The Burma Independence Act 1947 (1947, 11 Geo. The Burma Independence Act 1947 (1947, 11 Geo. Visit Of The Prime Minister Of Burma To Israel. The Union of Burma came into being on 4 January 1948 as an independent republic outside the Commonwealth. Instead, he said "the whole business has been conducted by the British Government from weakness and not from strength". He concluded his remarks by remarking that he believed the future of Burma "should be bright". The Act's most important provisions were:-, Prime Minister Clement Attlee introduced the Bill in Parliament for its second reading. Perhaps more than any other conflict, World War II produced some unusual military formations that defied easy categorization. To make matters worse, the British also armed the Muslim Rohingya to create a buffer against the Japanese, which contributed to the violence. 3) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that conferred independence on Burma, today called Myanmar. The BIA—originally formed in Japan—was re-organized into the Burma Defense Army (BDA), of which Aung San was the head. Burma was separated from India and directly administered by the British Crown from 1937 until its independence in 1948. Traditional activities and festivals are held throughout the country to celebrate the season. One such unit was the Indian National Army (INA) that fought for Japan in the Burma Theater 1942-45. He explained that in the future, the relationship between Burma and the United Kingdom would be based on a Treaty and on friendship. The Burma Independence Army (BIA) was a collaborationist and revolutionary army that fought for the end of British rule in Burma by assisting the Japanese in their conquest of the country in 1942 during World War II. Gen. The Act received the royal assent on 10 December 1947. Aung San, (born Feb. 13, 1915, Natmauk, Burma [now Myanmar]—died July 19, 1947, Rangoon [now Yangon]), Burmese nationalist leader and assassinated hero who was instrumental in securing Burma’s independence from Great Britain. 3) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that conferred independence on Burma, today called Myanmar. Because India gained Independence. VI, Ch. U Nu was elected Burma's Prime Minister through 1962. Burmese nationalists allied themselves with Japan during World War II, and Burma gained its independence from Britain in 1948. Nonetheless, Burma was separated from the rest of India in 1937 with little opposition from Indian nationalist leaders agitating for independence from Britain, as … Various shots of Mr Nu, Burmese Prime Minister, arriving in Tel Aviv and visiting Jerusalem, Israeli Premier Moshe Sharett. The Japanese left in 1945, and, in 1948, Burma gained its independence from the British. VI, Ch. It envisaged the drawing up of a constitution by representatives of the Burmese people with a view to full self-government. Effective British rule over the whole of Burma has lasted just over 60 years. After Myanmar gained independence from the British in 1948, Lord Mountbatten, the governor-general of India, returned the Thihathana Palin—the Lion Throne—to Myanmar. Burma celebrates her independence. Russians mark 10th anniversary of independence of Burma in Moscow. However, the British were pragmatic about the popular support this 32-year-old man enjoyed and Aung San eventually managed to negotiate Burma’s independence from Britain in January 1947. Thousands of soldiers from Britain’s “Jewel in the Crown” colony fought for the Japanese against British forces. The throne, which represents Myanmar’s sovereignty, is also on display at the National Museum. The Act received the royal assent on 10 December 1947. 10th Anniversary Of Burma's Independence. He pointed out that the aim outlined in the United Kingdom government White Paper of May, 1945 was for Burma to attain Dominion status, subject to its prior attainment of certain political milestones. On Jan. 4, 1948, Burma ended 60 years of colonial rule when it officially declared independence from Britain. He dryly criticised the Government for putting the future of Burma in the hands of such "outstanding authorities". Allied troops and Japanese troops clashed on July 19-August 4, 1945, resulting in the deaths of some 9,500 Japanese soldiers and 95 Allied soldiers. Burma - which had been making increasing demands for independence since their occupation by Japan in World War II - became an independent republic … Burma Independence. On January 4, 1948, Burma gained independence from Britain and a multi party system was established. [9] 1945. In the 19th century, following three Anglo-Burmese Wars, Burma was colonized by Britain.On 1 April 1937, Burma became a separately administered colony of Great Britain and Ba Maw the first Prime Minister and Premier of Burma. The formation of a Burmese government under Aung San followed with elections to a Constituent Assembly in which the party of Aung San won a majority. Massacre Under Japanese Occupation The one major factor or enabler of the reach and spread of the British Empire was India. He deplored the "extraordinary haste". Myanmar - Myanmar - The initial impact of colonialism: The chain of events following the Third Anglo-Burmese War dealt a bitter blow to Myanmar. He deplored that the legislation would "cut Burma out of the Empire altogether, and ... make her a foreign Power". The Burma Independence Act 1947 (1947, 11 Geo. He believed there would have been no difficulty in carrying out that programme in an orderly and careful manner. Burma was declared a province of India in November 1885 on the orders of the Secretary of State for India, Lord Randolph Churchill,with its capital at Rangoon, a move that ushered in a new period of economic growth. The independent Union of Burma came into being on 4 January 1948. An Act to provide for the independence of Burma as a country not within His Shan National Sao Shwe Taik became the new country’s first President and U Nu its first Prime Minister. 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