Bio on Shan hero turned down by censors

No.14 - 06/2006
22 June 2006

Politics

U Tin Aye: One of the Union's founding fathers, a 12 chapter, 212 page manuscript that was submitted to the censors on 23 May, returned later with a definite No to its author Shwe Ohn, 83, Chairman of the de-registered Democratic League for the National Races of Shan State (DLNRSS) and a lifelong associate of Tin Aye, who died in Taunggyi in 1995 at the age of 79.   According to a source who had read it, the regime had ample reasons to ditch the book, which, Shwe Ohn insisted, "should be widely distributed":

• The author claims that if Aung San, the detained Nobel laureate's father, is the No. 1 founding father of the Union of Burma, Tin Aye should be placed in the Top Ten. "To exacerbate things, it says nothing about the role of the military," she says.

• The book also paints Sao Shwe Thaike, Prince of Yawnghwe and the first President of the Union of Burma, who died under mysterious circumstances following the military takeover in 1962, in a sympathetic light, contrary to junta propaganda: as one who promoted public education and even tolerated anti-feudalist youths in his princely state.

• The book also champions the call for lowland Burmese areas to form a separate unit in the Union, a stand zealously opposed by the regime.

The author nevertheless maintains that the 8-state configuration (1 Burman and 7-Non Burman) has been endorsed by several Burman leaders including U Nu, Vidhura Thakin Chit Maung (both originally opposed the proposal), Thein Pe Myint, Tin Oo, Aung San Suu Kyi and Veteran Politicians Group.

Tin Aye ( spelled Tin E in the Panglong Agreement), who once called himself " a Shan teacher who teaches Burmese to students in English", had founded the Shan States Peoples Freedom League (SPFL) that had stood firmly for joint independence with Burma against the tide of calls for separate independence from the British. A public rally organized by him on 26 January 1947 in support of Aung San, who was negotiating in London for the terms of independence, had greatly contributed to the success of the talks, as conceded by Aung San himself.

Bio-Data

Name:                 Tin Aye (Tin E in the Panglong Agreement)

Former Name:     Ba Aye

Date of Birth:       9 December 1916

Place of Birth:      Kantha Quarter, Yawnghwe

Parents:               U Waing (Shan) Indaeng assistant minister to the princely state of                             Yawnghwe Daw Thwe (Intha)

Siblings:              1 sister, Mya Yin (died, 1934)

Marital Status:     Married to Daw Tin Aye, 31 October 1939 (deceased, 22
                           September 2004)

Children:             1 daughter, Khin Nay Win aka Ma Maung (deceased, 1998)

Activities:       

--------              Attends school at Haiya village, Inlay lake

--------              Attends school at Yawnghwe until 4th standard

1928    Attends middle school in Yawnghwe

1931    Arrives in Taunggyi to attend the American BaptistMission (ABM) school

1934    Student at the University of Rangoon; sets up Shan States Students Association

1936    Participates in the student strike in Rangoon; sets up Alin Yaung Library in
            Yawnghwe

1940    Bachelor of Arts with distinction in Burmese

1942    Japanese occupation. Chairman of Asia Youth League- Taunggyi

1945    Participates in the anti-Japanese resistance

1946    Attends Panglong I ( 20-28 March); founds the Shan State Peoples Freedom
            League (SPFL) that calls for joint-independence with Burma

1947    Organizes rallies in support of Aung San, who is negotiating in London for joint-
            independence (26 January); Co-signatory to the Panglong Agreement (12
            February)

1948    Independence and civil strife in Shan State. Retires from politics to accept job
            at the University of Rangoon

1971    Appointed member of the Constitution Drafting Commission for a Socialist
            State

1977    Retires from the university (9 April)

1978    Elected representative of Yawnghwe; appointed a State Councilor ( 2 March
            1978-9 November 1981)

1982    Returns to Taunggyi to his home at Sao Sam Tun Quarter on the Main Road

1995    Dies at the age of 79 (16 October)