Communist insurgency in Burma

Quick Facts: Who was Communist insurgency in Burma?

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Communist insurgency in Burma

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An underground communist party in Myanmar, founded in 1939, known for its long armed struggle.

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Origins & Early Life

The Communist Party of Burma (CPB), also known as the Burma Communist Party (BCP), is an underground communist party in Myanmar (formerly Burma). The party adheres to Marxism–Leninism and Maoism (officially Mao Zedong Thought). Founded in 1939, it is the oldest existing political party in the country. The CPB initially fought against British colonial forces in Myanmar before joining them in a temporary alliance to expel the invading Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. In the final years of the war, the CPB helped establish a leftist political and military coalition called the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL).

Career & Major Achievements

However, the CPB fell out of favour with the more moderate socialists within the AFPFL due to differing views on how an independent Myanmar should be governed. After independence in 1948, the moderate faction became the dominant political force in the AFPFL-led government and began cracking down on the CPB. The CPB's leaders were forced out of the capital Rangoon (present-day Yangon) and into the countryside, and the party consequently began an armed insurrection in Paukkongyi, Pegu Region (present-day Bago Region). The four-decade-long insurgency by the CPB ended with an internal mutiny and the party's leadership fleeing to China. Following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, the CPB's cadres rearmed themselves and reentered Myanmar.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The CPB announced it had begun a "people's war" against the State Administration Council, the military junta established after the coup. The CPB maintains cordial relations with the National Unity Government and the People's Defence Force. The CPB was established in a secret meeting attended by seven men in a small room in Barr Street, Rangoon, on 15 August 1939. The attendees were Thakin Aung San, Thakin Ba Hein, Thakin Bo, Thakin Hla Pe (Bo Let Ya), Thakin Soe, Yèbaw Ba Tin (H. N. Goshal), and Yèbaw Tun Maung (Amar Nag). An armed wing was formed shortly afterwards which fought against British colonial rule and then the invading Imperial Japanese Army upon the start of the Burma campaign of World War II.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1939: 1939 Milestone — Founded in 1939, it is the oldest existing political party in the country.
2. 1948: 1948 Milestone — After independence in 1948, the moderate faction became the dominant political force in the AFPFL-led government and began cracking down on the CPB.
3. 2021: 2021 Milestone — Following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, the CPB's cadres rearmed themselves and reentered Myanmar.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Communist insurgency in Burma

True or False: “The Communist Party of Burma immediately formed an alliance with the British colonial forces upon its founding in 1939.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Upon its founding, the CPB initially fought against British colonial rule and later joined a temporary alliance to expel the Japanese during World War II.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ada Yonath — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Pioneering crystallographer known for elucidating the structure and function of the ribosome.
• Alan Ayckbourn — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Prolific British playwright and director known for domestic farce and ensemble pieces.
• A. Wyatt Tilby — Historical peer (Died in 1948) (1948): British author, journalist, and traveler known for his writings on history and philosophy.
• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller — Historical peer (Died in 1948) (1948): American socialite and influential philanthropist, key patron of modern art.
• Aaron Beck — Historical peer (Died in 2021) (2021): Father of Cognitive Therapy and CBT, revolutionizing psychiatric treatment.
• Abdelaziz Bouteflika — Historical peer (Died in 2021) (2021): Algerian politician who served as the seventh President of Algeria from 1999 to 2019.

Frequently Asked Questions about Communist insurgency in Burma