This article considers the military and civil orders, decorations and medals of Burma. Thudama and Sithu Thingaha
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This award was for participation in both military and civil struggles of Burma's independence. This award is granted for service in three different periods:
Participants in all three periods were awarded the First Class, participants in only two periods received the second class and participants in only in one period were awarded the third class. The provision of this award can be passed down to direct heirs of the original participant and to be worn, multi-generationally, in this fashion similar to the awards bestowed by the ancient Myanmar kings to their loyal subjects. It was established in 1953 and the last Order of the Star of Revolution was awarded on 24 November 1986.
Instituted in 1948, the Aung San Thuriya medal is the highest recognition for valour and gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the Myanmar Armed Forces of any ranks in any services. This is the highest military award in Myanmar and it is equivalent to British Victoria Cross and German Knight Cross of the Iron Cross.
The decoration is a one and half inch (3.8 cm) stainless steel stylized sun of sixteen rays. Suspended by an integral straight bar suspender. The name of the recipient name and year of award is engraved on the reverse and the sun was held by two ribbons.
To this day, there have only been 6 Aung San Thuriya medals has been awarded and only one of the recipient is civilian. The recipients are[1]:
| Name | Rank | Serial No. | Ethnicity | Unit | Awarding Order No. | Date | Battlefield | Enemy Forces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aye Cho | Major | N/A | Burman | No. 3 Union Military Police Battalion | N/A | 1948 | Battle of Po Tha Aung Gon | Communist Party of Burma (CPB) |
| Taik Chun | Lieutenant | N/A | Chin | No. 1 Chin Rifles Battalion | N/A | 18/04/1949 | Battle of Insein | Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) |
| Hla Thaung | Private | 88865 | Burman | No. 3 Burma Rifles Battalion | 10/A Htoo/50 | 29/04/1949 | Battle of Daik-U | Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) |
| Suk Bahadur Rai | Private | 01914 | Gurkha | No. 4 Burma Rifles Battalion | 14/A Htoo/51 | 05/1950 | Battle of Tachileik Highway | Kuomintang (KMT) |
| Saw Myint | Private | 60603 | Karen | No. 1 Karen Rifles Battalion | 3/A Htoo/52 | 28/06/1951 | Battle of Yethogyi Road | Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) |
| Saw Ba Yi | Civilian | - | Karen | - | 3/A Htoo/52 | 28/06/1951 | Battle of Yethogyi Road | Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) |
The decoration is a bronze stylized Burmese lion, with the name of the decoration written in Burmese "Thiha Thura" on the scroll below. The ribbon is 1.25 inches (32 mm), bright red with yellow edges or red with dark green centre stripes.
A total of 46 Thiha Thura Medals has been awarded between 1949 and 2003[2].
A silver depiction of a stylized rising sun with the central sun in red enamel. The ribbon is 32 mm, bright red with yellow edges and a yellow center stripe.
To date, a total of 517 Thura medals has been awarded.
In the Parliamentary Democracy Period after regaining Independence in 1948, the honorary titles and honorary medals in conformity with the independent and sovereign country were created to confer them on the outstanding persons. From 1948 to 1978, the honorary titles and honorary medals conferred on the outstanding persons were as follows:-
In 1978, the Burma Socialist Programme Party issued new provision on honorary titles and honorary medals in conformity with the Socialist System to amend the honorary titles and honorary medals awarded in the Parliamentary Democracy Period. According to new provision, the titles and medals were conferred on those who forged the Socialism, on those who made utmost efforts for improvement of the Socialist economic system and on those who made sacrifice of lives in safeguarding the nation. The honorary titles and medals awarded from 1978 to 1988 were as follows:-
The honorary titles and medals awarded from 1988 to 2009 were as same as from period of 1978 to 1988. There were no changes in honorary titles and medals and most were awarded in accord with the system practised in the period of Burma Socialist Programme Party.
In 2001, State Peace and Development Council added new categories of medals in the Medals for Outstanding Performance. They were:-
In December of 2009, State Peace and Development Council issued the new provision on honorary tiles and honorary medals. The following are the current 16 honorary titles and 22 honorary medals and classes are awarded:-
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