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The Burma Round Table Conference was held in London 1931-32 to consider the future of Burma. The decision was taken that Burma should no longer be administered as a province of India but should be governed directly from London. The photograph shows the final session of the conference, presided over by the Prime Minister himself Sir Ramsay MacDonald. The Prime Minister is flanked by Lord Peel, the chair of the conference, and Sir Samuel Hoare, the Secretary of State for India. To Sir Samuel's left is Burma's lone woman representative, "Miss May Oung" (Daw Mya Sein) whose wit and charm made a great impression on all who met her in London. We are grateful to Thant Myint-U for the identities and  to Timeline Photos for the photograph.

  • "The Loyal Karens of Burma" by Donald Mackenzie Smeaton (1846-1910) first published 1887 and available from Amazon                 

Murder charge against Aung San in 1946
Burma Studies Conference - Singapore 1-3 August 2014
 Jiang Fan, Lecturer at the Guangzhou Administration Institute, explains that Aung San was the most prominent Burmese nationalist to fight for the independence of Burma from British colonial rule. In 1946, Aung San was accused of murdering a village headman during the Second World War. This was not politically motivated because Aung San himself acknoweldged that he was responsible. However, the British government had to consider how they could cope with the consequences of arresting Aung San.

While examining how best to deal with the murder charge, Burma attracted the attention of an otherwise preoccupied British government. Relations between Governor Dorman-Smith and London deteriorated sharply. By examining British official documents, Jiang Fan reveals how the murder case triggered divergences within the British government, and how it accelerated the change of postwar British policy towards Burma.

The Death of General Aung San on 19 July 1947

Trading with the Enemy
Far Eastern Economic Review - 10 March 1994
The author and historian Thant Myint-U argues in favour of commercial and developmental enagement with Myanmar.

BurmaNet - 13 March 1994
"Strider", the pseudonym of the American founder of BurmaNet Doug Steele, is critical of Thant Myint-U's article and sees the isolation of Myanmar as the better policy.

Beauty and the Beast
The Guardian - 27 May 2000
Timothy Garton Ash visited Myanmar and talked with Suu Kyi

Prospect Magazine - July 2001
Andrew Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark looked at the crumbling Burmese opposition.
Wisma Putra No. 1 - 2006
Former UN Special Envoy Razali Ismail sought to negotiate between the opposition party and the military regime from 2000 until 2005. He recalls his meetings with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Video Report of a Lecture at the World Affairs Council of North  Carolina
On 22 February 2007 by Thant Myint-U, grandson of former UN Secretary-General U Thant in which he traces the recent history of Myanmar and responds to questions.

Extracts from a Despatch from the British Ambassador in Rangoon
dated 24 January 1974 to the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary about the Proclamation made on 3 January 1974 of Burma's New Constitution, including the Referendum Results.

"A Historical Overview of Political Transition in Myanmar since 1988"  
Asian Research Institute, National University of Singapore Working Paper August 2007
Dr Maung Aung Moe discusses the political transition in Myanmar. His paper studies the political circumstances that led to the holding of the National Convention and drafting of a new constitution in Myanmar. It also examines the nature of the political executive that the new constitution will produce for Myanmar in the future. 
Amnesty International Report dated 5 June 2008
This report focuses on violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed in Kayin State and Bago Division between 2005 through 2007. It includes information on violations committed in military operations by the Myanmar army (known as the Tatmadaw) and on Tatmadaw policy and practices that have targeted civilians. Amnesty International is further concerned that the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC, Myanmar’s military government) has not met its obligations under international law to protect civilians from widespread human rights abuses in the context of the armed conflict.   

From the past: Debate on the Burma Independence Bill - 5 November 1947
Hansard for 5 November 1947
Essential reading. Prime Minister Clement Attlee and Leader of the Opposition Winston Churchill clash over the future of Burma outside the Commonwealth during the second and definitive reading of the Burma Independence Bill.

Report of the Frontier Areas Committee of Enquiry 1947  
Superintendent Government Printing and Stationery Rangoon 1947
Report presented to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of Burma.  


          Archive of the wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton

       
The Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar accredited to the Court of St James's His Excellency U Kyaw Myo Htut attended the wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton on 29 April 2011.

 

       

A Minute by Mr JNR Curle Protocol Department 11 July 1974 in File FCO 15/1873 at the National Archives. "Sir Martin Charteris [Private Secretary to HM The Queen] telephoned to say this morning that, though The Queen was very busy during 12-20 July, She liked Ne Win and would probably be inclined to offer him e.g. tea if he should some sign of wanting to pay his respects." 

Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra were occasional visitors to Burma during the 1960s and 1970s. General Ne Win of Burma was invited to the wedding of Princess Alexandra and Mr Angus Ogilvy on 24 April 1963, but declined, explaining that he could not venture out of Burma "until after the rains".

ASEAN Secretariat - 1 April 2015
[Not to be taken too seriously, if you note the date.]
In a Joint Statement released in London today, High Commissioners and Ambassadors of the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) accredited to the Court of St James's have expressed their unwavering support for the democratic reforms which are taking place in the United Kingdom during the 800 years since the 1215 Revolt of the Barons which led to the Magna Carta.
 
They are encouraged that, despite continuing infrastructure problems affecting the economy, notably a grievously underfunded National Health Service, an overcrowded commuter system into London, uncertainty about the development of "HS2", the high speed rail network, and the decline in the UK's military power resulting from imprudent economies which have left the UK without a serviceable aircraft carrier, most political parties in the UK have expressed their determination to participate in the forthcoming elections due on 7 May 2015.
 
ASEAN missions in London fully recognise the challenges faced by the present unpopular Etonian-dominated Government and an even more unpopular Trade Union-dominated Opposition, and by the likelihood that fringe and regional parties like the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the Scottish National Party (SNP) could make massive inroads into support previously taken for granted by the established parties. They would encourage all voters to exercise their democratic rights, despite the lamentable dearth of talent on offer.
 
Cognisant that under UK electoral law citizens of Commonwealth countries have the right to stand as candidates in UK parliamentary elections subject to certain  immigration criteria,  ASEAN missions who are Members of the Commonwealth are encouraging their citizens to stand for election, thus offering British voters a broader and more attractive choice. Myanmar wishes it to be known that for this same reason they are contemplating early membership of the Commonwealth as their citizens are currently debarred from standing in UK elections. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is personally campaigning to achieve this important constitutional change. She has also strongly recommended that women should, in view of their historical disenfranchisement, be granted a second vote which they can record in any constituency of their choosing.

To encourage the democratic process while respecting their duty under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations not to interfere in the internal affairs of the UK, ASEAN missions have launched a Five-Year Political Development Fund with the following objectives:

  • To encourage the UK to choose another designation for the country, given that all ASEAN countries are historically united kingdoms. "Britannia" is strongly recommended.
  • To promote cleaner living through a Moralities (Parliamentary) Act which will require all Members of both Houses of Parliament to register their illicit pursuits in a Book of Shame available for public inspection.
  • To provide facilities for all Members of the House of Commons to be seated. They propose the construction of a two-tier gallery system whereby MPs sanctioned by Mr Speaker are required to sit in silence in the Upper Gallery without the right of intervention until a suitable seat is vacated in the Lower Gallery.
  • To make non-discriminatory grants to all political parties and individuals contesting the elections in order to enhance their material well-being and to reduce incentives to expense account irregularities which regrettably have been so prevalent in recent years.
  • To expand the work of the UK-Myanmar Antarctic Expedition in the light of their recent ornithological discoveries, which the BBC have kindly recorded in a television programme.

ASEAN Missions have invited Mr Alex Salmond of the Scottish National Party to be their Special Rapporteur to monitor the progress of the Development Fund initiative. Mr Salmond is particularly well qualified for this position in the light of his devotion to fundamental change in the structure of the United Kingdom

This statement has been issued in the main languages currently spoken the UK, including the Polish, Bengali, Angloromani, Brythonic Celtic, Goidelic Celtic, Cockney and Shelta languages.  

BBC Special Report on the UK-Myanmar Antarctic Expedition

The Myanmar Times - 1 April 2015

The Myanmar government is sending an observer team to the United Kingdom in advance of the elections to be held there on May 7.

 

 

 
“We think it’s worth keeping an eye on the elections in England,” said a government spokesperson, referring to the country by its former name still in use in some quarters. “Though we detect some progress towards real democracy, they still have a long way to go. They don’t have a written constitution, their head of state is unelected, and a very large proportion of their parliamentary seats are set aside for unelected people, including religious leaders.”

         

Lee Jones 1

RT NW 1