Bo Mya (Burmese: ဘိုမြ[bòmja̰]; born Htee Moo Kee; 20 January 1927 – 24 December 2006) was a Karen leader born in Papun District, which is in present-day Karen State, Myanmar. He was a long-standing chairman of the Karen National Union (KNU), a political organisation of the Karen people, from 1976 to 2000. He stepped down to become vice-chairman in 2004, and retired in 2004 from all public offices, due to poor health.
Bo Mya was among a significant number of Karens who joined the British — specifically in Bo Mya's case, Force 136 — during World War II, with whom he fought the Japanese from the East Dawna hills in 1944 to 1945.
After the Karens declared independence from Burma in 1949, Bo Mya quickly rose to a position of pre-eminence in the Karen movement, earning a reputation as a hard and ruthless operator. Based at Manerplaw ("victory field") close to the Thai-Burma border, the KNU under his control, and its military wing the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), was probably the most successful of the ethnic rebel organisations fighting Rangoon in the Karen Conflict in the 1970s and 1980s.
But by the mid-1990s, the tide was turning against him. A devout Christian of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Bo Mya had always risked antagonising elements from within the predominantly Karen Buddhist and animist KNLA ranks. Although his defenders say he treated both Christians and Buddhists equally, the fact that the top positions of the KNU were filled almost entirely by Christians seemed to confirm the impression that he promoted the minority Christians' interests at the expense of those of the Buddhists and animists.
In late 1994, a group of KNLA soldiers broke away from the main army and formed the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA). They allied themselves with the Burmese military, and led Burmese troops into Manerplaw in December 1994, leading to its capture — the biggest single setback to the Karens in their post-war history.
Since then, the KNU and KNLA's effectiveness has gradually diminished. This was demonstrated at the beginning of 2004 when Bo Mya travelled to Yangon (Rangoon), his first visit to the capital in 50 years, to hold peace talks with Khin Nyunt, who was Prime Minister at the time.
On 24 December 2006, Bo Mya died in a hospital in Mae Sot, Thailand, near the eastern border of Myanmar. He had heart disease and diabetes and was unable to walk for three years before his death.
Referencesedit
^"Bo Mya, 79; longtime leader of Myanmar guerrilla group". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 25 December 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
Smith, Martin. Burma: Insurgency and the Politics of Ethnicity
South, Ashley (December 2006). . The Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on 2007-01-08. Retrieved 2006-12-25.
"Myanmar rebel leader dies after long illness". Reuters. 2006-12-24. Retrieved 2006-12-25.[dead link]
Saw Kapi (2006-12-25). . Mizzima News. Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved 2006-12-26.
December 17, 2023
this, burmese, name, honorific, given, name, burmese, born, htee, january, 1927, december, 2006, karen, leader, born, papun, district, which, present, karen, state, myanmar, long, standing, chairman, karen, national, union, political, organisation, karen, peop. In this Burmese name Bo is an honorific not a given name Bo Mya Burmese ဘ မ bo mja born Htee Moo Kee 20 January 1927 24 December 2006 was a Karen leader born in Papun District which is in present day Karen State Myanmar He was a long standing chairman of the Karen National Union KNU a political organisation of the Karen people from 1976 to 2000 He stepped down to become vice chairman in 2004 and retired in 2004 from all public offices due to poor health Saw BoMyaChairman of the Karen National UnionPersonal detailsBorn 1927 01 20 20 January 1927Htimukhi village Hpapun Township British BurmaDied24 December 2006 2006 12 24 aged 79 Mae Sot ThailandNationalityKawthoolesePolitical partyKaren National UnionSpouseNaw Lar Po 1 Children3 daughters 4 sons Contents 1 Early career 2 1990s 3 Death 4 ReferencesEarly career editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed October 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Bo Mya was among a significant number of Karens who joined the British specifically in Bo Mya s case Force 136 during World War II with whom he fought the Japanese from the East Dawna hills in 1944 to 1945 After the Karens declared independence from Burma in 1949 Bo Mya quickly rose to a position of pre eminence in the Karen movement earning a reputation as a hard and ruthless operator Based at Manerplaw victory field close to the Thai Burma border the KNU under his control and its military wing the Karen National Liberation Army KNLA was probably the most successful of the ethnic rebel organisations fighting Rangoon in the Karen Conflict in the 1970s and 1980s 1990s editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed October 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message But by the mid 1990s the tide was turning against him A devout Christian of the Seventh day Adventist Church Bo Mya had always risked antagonising elements from within the predominantly Karen Buddhist and animist KNLA ranks Although his defenders say he treated both Christians and Buddhists equally the fact that the top positions of the KNU were filled almost entirely by Christians seemed to confirm the impression that he promoted the minority Christians interests at the expense of those of the Buddhists and animists In late 1994 a group of KNLA soldiers broke away from the main army and formed the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army DKBA They allied themselves with the Burmese military and led Burmese troops into Manerplaw in December 1994 leading to its capture the biggest single setback to the Karens in their post war history Since then the KNU and KNLA s effectiveness has gradually diminished This was demonstrated at the beginning of 2004 when Bo Mya travelled to Yangon Rangoon his first visit to the capital in 50 years to hold peace talks with Khin Nyunt who was Prime Minister at the time Death editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed October 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message nbsp Christianity portal nbsp Biography portalOn 24 December 2006 Bo Mya died in a hospital in Mae Sot Thailand near the eastern border of Myanmar He had heart disease and diabetes and was unable to walk for three years before his death References edit Bo Mya 79 longtime leader of Myanmar guerrilla group Los Angeles Times Associated Press 25 December 2006 Retrieved 16 April 2012 Smith Martin Burma Insurgency and the Politics of Ethnicity Paung Shah 2006 12 24 Renowned Karen Rebel Leader Dead The Irrawaddy Retrieved 2006 12 25 dead link South Ashley December 2006 Bo Mya Life long revolutionary The Irrawaddy Archived from the original on 2007 01 08 Retrieved 2006 12 25 Myanmar rebel leader dies after long illness Reuters 2006 12 24 Retrieved 2006 12 25 dead link Saw Kapi 2006 12 25 Obituary Saw Bo Mya A symbol of resistance Mizzima News Archived from the original on December 13 2007 Retrieved 2006 12 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bo Mya amp oldid 1181778527, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
