Evening star., 1948-08-16
Burma Regime Totters
Due 10 Discomfort and
Struggle for Power
By John Roderick

Asseeiotsd Press Foreign Correspondent
CAIRO, Aug. 16.-The young gov
ernment Of Independent Burma is
tottering under the weight of popu-
lar discomfort and an internal fight
for power.
During the past 10 days 42-year-
old Premier Thakin Nu has put
down an intended revolt within the
units of the National Army. Per-
sons who know say the army dis
affection is widespread and may
embrace a third of the officers and
men.
The first hint of the uprising was
broken to the public last week when
Rangoon newspapers cautiously re-
vealed that 300 men of the 18th
Battalion of the Military Police
were surprised in their barracks at
Chintsong Palace. They were sur
rounded and disarmed Chintsong
Palace is miles from the American
Embassy.
The government said the troops
intended to join detachment of 70
OF their comrades who the day be-
fore went over to the Communists
at Kayan, near Rangoon, and seized
the town.
Censorship Applied.
When the revolt began the gov
eminent swiftly clamped down with
24-nour censorship and began dis
afming other arm units whose loyal-
ty was suspected.
At the same time, it set up barri-
cades across roads leading into the
suburbs and carefully examined in
coming and outgoing vehicles.
Thakin NUS anxiety over the turn
OF events was obvious at a subse-
quent press conference.
Il would much rather have ar
rested a hundred innocent persons
today than have let one guilty one
escape" he told one reporter.
Since Burma got its independence
seven months ago there has been a
sometimes undignified scramble for
power.
The country former masters, the
British, appear to be following a
strictly hands-off policy. Their
troops have been withdrawn with
the exception of a detachment of
Is officers and men who are sched-
ulea-to leave shortly and a small
advisory group which is training
the Burmese Army.
Jail is Crowded
Rangoon's Prone Road Jail is
crowded with political opponents of
Thakin Nus regime. They have
been held without trial under Sec
ton of the Burmese code which
gives general powers to halt threats
to the security. 1
Section now applies to prac-
tically all of Burma's political
parties, most Of which have gone
underground.
e The man behind the political
purge is Ryan Nyein, the home
minister. He returned from con-
yalescense trip to Madras, India, a
month ago and promptly began
filling the jails.
!. A frsil man suffering from tuber-
culosis, he is the founder of the
Burmese Socialist Party. More i'm
portant, he is 1887 graduate of
Rangood University. The STILL
youthful members of that class now
occupy most of the cabinet seats
in the socialist government.
Their opponents include the Com
munists, some independents, the
peoples volunteer organization and |
ambitious army officers.
Reds Make Trouble.
The Communists have been max
ing things hot for the government
in outlying areas. Their leader,
Than Tun, now is in hiding in the
Pyinmana Forests, 300 miles from
Rangoon. The American State De-
partnent recently labelled him a
foremost disciple of Soviet Prime
Minister Stain.
The go-between in whatever
liaison Burma and Moscow may !
have is a quiet, brilliant man named
Goshal who is said to get his orders
via Calcutta. There is $4,000
price tag on Goshal's head.
However, much that is described
as Communist activity in reality is
simple banditry which is flourishing
In Burma these days.
How long Thakin Nus govern
ment, which undoubtedly is honest,
sincere and full of good intentions,
can survive these stresses and .
strains is hard to say. Most for
eigners in Burma say he probably
will hand over the reins to mill
tary regime headed by army COM
mander Smith Dun, Burmese,
who, at As, is the highest ranking
general in the country.
Smith Dun is a quiet man who
politically stands a little left of
center. He was promoted the other
day to the rank of lieutenant gen.
eral and given wide powers. That
may have been step in the direc-
ton of his ultimate full control.
If he does take over Burma, which
never has been Communist, Ger
tainly will be much less so than ever