Union Revolutionary Council
The Union Revolutionary Council (Burmese: ပြည်ထောင်စု တော်လှန်ရေး ကောင်စီ အဖွဲ့, abbreviated URC; also known as the Revolutionary Council of Burma, abbreviated RC) was the supreme governing body of Burma (now Myanmar) from 2 March 1962, following the overthrow of U Nu's civilian government, to 3 March 1974, with the promulgation of the 1974 Constitution of Burma and transfer of power to the Pyithu Hluttaw, the country's new unicameral legislature.[1][2]
The Revolutionary Council's philosophical framework was laid in the Burmese Way to Socialism, which aspired to convert Burma into a self-sustaining socialist democratic state, on 30 April 1962.[2] On 4 July 1962, the URC established the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP), the country's only legal political party modelled along the lines of a Marxist-Leninist revolutionary party.[3] From 1962 to 1971, BSPP transitioned from a cadre party (consisting of elite RC affiliated member) into a mass party.[3] In the First Congress, the party had 344,226 members.[3] By 1981, BSPP had 1.5 million members.[3]
Leadership
URC was led by Ne Win, its chairman and 17 senior officers.[4]
Founding members of the Revolutionary Council, all of whom were military officers, included:[1][5][6]
- General Ne Win BC-3502 (Chief of Defence Staff)
- Brigadier Aung Gyi BC-5458 (Vice Chief of Staff) (Army)
- Commodore Than Pe (died 1962) (Vice Chief of Staff) (Navy)
- Brigadier Tin Pe (resigned 1970) BC-3508 (Quartermaster General)
- Brigadier Thomas 'Tommy' Clift (Vice Chief of Staff) (Air) (resigned 1964)
- Brigadier San Yu BC-3569 (North West Command Commander)
- Brigadier Sein Win BC-3525 (Central Command Commander)
- Colonel Kyi Maung (Sacked 1963) BC-3516 (South West Command Commander)
- Colonel Maung Shwe (resigned 1972) BC-3575 (Eastern Command Commander)
- Colonel Thaung Kyi BC-3523 (South East Command Commander)
- Colonel Than Sein BC-3574 (Colonel- General Staff)
- Colonel Tan Yu Sai (resigned 1968) BC-5090 (Director of Territorial Troops)
- Colonel Kyaw Soe (retired 1974) BC-3526 (Chief of Military Appointment)
- Colonel Khin Nyo (dismissed 1965) BC-3537 (Director of Military Training)
- Colonel Saw Myint (Sacked 1964) BC-3518 (Director of Frontier Administration)
- Colonel Chit Myaing (dismissed 1964) BC-3520 (Vice Quartermaster General)
- Colonel Lun Tin (resigned 1971) BC-3610
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Heinz, L.C. (6 March 1962). "An Analysis of the Current Situation in Burma". US Department of State. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Moscotti, Albert D. (1977). Burma's Constitution and Elections of 1974. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. pp. 171–172.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Seekins, Donald M. (2006). Historical Dictionary of Burma. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810854765.
- ↑ "Historical Background". Burma Yearbook 2000. 2000. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ↑ ""A Voluntarily abdicated Majesty" or "A Usurper": A Brief Political History of Ne Win". Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ↑ Mya Maung (1991). The Burma Road to Poverty. Praeger. p. 119. ISBN 9780275936136.
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