The Founding Fathers of the Union of Burma (Myanmar)

FRONTIER AREAS ENQUIRY COMMISSION

In order to find out the wishes of the peoples of the Frontier areas, a Frontier Enquiry Commission was formed as authorised by the Aung San-Attlee Agreement. The following gentlemen were members of the Commission. Bogyoke Aung San did not sit personally on the Commission but relegated it to Thakin Nu.

  1. Mr D.R. Rees-Williams (now Lord Ogmore) Chairman.
  2. Thakin Nu, Vice President, AFPFL.
  3. Hon’ble Sao Sam Htun, Shan Counsellor.
  4. Hon’ble Vum Ko Hau Chin Counsellor
  5. Hon’ble Sinwa Naw, Kachin Counsellor.
  6. Hon’ble U Tin Tut.
  7. Bo Khin Maung Gale, AFPFL
  8. Saw Myint Thein (who replaced Hon’ble U Kyaw Nyein when the Commission moved to Maymyo) Karen youth.
  9. Saw Sankey, KNU.

This Commission enquired and recommended the best method of associating the Frontier peoples with the working out of the new Constitution for Burma and made suggestions regarding the participation of the Frontier peoples as members of the Constituent Assembly. They reported the fact that the Frontier peoples really wanted to participate In the Constituent assembly.

Thakin Nu’s Cabinet after the assassination in July 1947 composed of:

  1. Hon’ble Thakin Nu, Prime Minister
  2. Hon’ble Sao Hkun Hkio, Shan Affairs Minister
  3. Hon’ble Vum Ko Hau, Chin Affairs Minister
  4. Hon’ble Sinwa Naw, Kachin Affairs Minister
  5. Hon’ble Bo Letya, Defence Minister
  6. Hon’ble U Kyaw Nyein, Home & Judicial Minister
  7. Hon’ble U Tin Tut
  8. Hon’ble Pyawbwe U Mya, Transport & Communications
  9. Hon’ble Henzada^U Mya, national planning
  10. Hon’ble Thankin Tin, agriculture and forests
  11. Hon’ble Mahn Win ‘Maung, industry and’ labour
  12. Hon’ble U Aung Zan Wai, social services
  13. Hon’ble Saw San Po Thin, education
  14. Hon’ble U Ba Gyan, commerce.

Most of the things for the final independence of Burma as well as details for statehoods of the frontier areas were thrashed out during this period. The draft of the Union Constitution was adopted.

Authors of the Union Constitution

Unlike the American Declaration of Independence which was written solely by a frontier man Thomas Jefferson, the Constitution of the Union of Burma was written under the joint authorship of the Constitution ‘Drafting Committee consisting of the following seventeen members of the Constituent Assembly.

  1. Hon’ble Sao Shwe Thaike, president of the assembly
  2. Hon’ble Thakin Nu, successor to Honble U Aung San
  3. Hon’ble Saohpalong of. Mongmit, frontier areas
  4. Hon’ble U Vum- Ko Hau, frontier areas
  5. Hon’ble U Tin Tut
  6. Hon’ble Thakin Tin
  7. Hon’ble Mahn Win .Maung
  8. U Lun Baw
  9. Thakin Tin Tun, communist party
  10. U Ba Thi
  11. U Kyaw Myint
  12. Mr. A. Rivers
  13. Bo Tun Lin
  14. Saw Norton Bwa
  15. Labang Grong, frontier areas
  16. U Tin (Myanaung).
  17. U Tun Pe

Aung San Cabinet

The historic Union cabinet of Bogyoke Aung San at the crucial time the Frontier leaders first joined the Burma cabinet on March 15, 1947 was as below:

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  1. Hon’ble Bogyoke Aung San, Counsellor for Defence, Deputy Chairman and President of AFPFL.
  2. Hon’ble Sao Sam Htun, Saohpalong of Mongpawn, Counsellor for Shans, President of Supreme Council of United Hill Peoples
  3. Hon’ble Vum Ko Hau of Siyin Valley, Counsellor for Chins, and Vice President of Supreme Council of United Hill Peoples.
  4. Hon’ble Sinwa Naw, Duwa of Sama, Counsellor for Kachins and Vice President of Supreme Council of United Hill Peoples
  5. Hon’ble Thakin Mya, Finance Member
  6. Hon’ble U Kyaw Nyein, Home member
  7. Hon’ble U Tin Tut, member without portfolio
  8. Hon’ble Mhan Ba Khaing, member for public works
  9. Hon’ble Pyawbwe U Mya, member for agriculture and forests
  10. Hon’ble U Aung Zan Wai, member for social services
  11. Hon’ble Abdul Razak, member for education
  12. Hon’ble Deedoke Ba Choe, member for information

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