Criterios de evaluación y estándares de aprendizaje

and using the tats in different places to threaten or beat up opposition, cause a revival of partisan-force outlook which had been forgotten, after servitude under the British crown for so long. In the dynastic times, in the feudal scheme of social organisation even a village headman, would have his own tat; and often when kings were weak these forces became the nucleus of dynastic challenge* U Saw had reminded the people of these and soon his political opposition were furiously

organising their own forces, if only to defend themselves at their own rallys. Everyone was aware of how Hitler*s brown shirts had beaten their way to power.

35. Sun, daily, dated 28-5-38, p.8, reported in great bold titles a full page spread of the account of his tour of the villages in his constituency at each of which he ex­ plained why he had to split the Ngabwintsaing (faction in House of Representatives), and also his determination to

form the Galon Army of 100,000. He said those in other tats should join his and together the Galon Army would become a might for Burma to depend upon... "will not rebel, far from it, I will personally object to rebellion.” ..But "if Britain is at war with a foreign country the Galon Army will help, but not for free.... When all the towns in Burma fly the Galon Flag we will all under it shout *Give us back Burma*, sind we shall surely get it back.”

Subsequently, from the issues of July onwards, there would be a special column (a short notice in most cases) titled in bold print, "Galon Tatgyi Tow Byan-pyi", (Another in­ crease in the Galon Army), listing youths who Joined the tat, at different towns.

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The All Burma i'outh League

The Youth League was founded In early 1930 by national achool masters and college students who felt keenly the degra­ dation of national politicsy the loss of ideals» and the de­ generation of all political parties into selfish aims of office seeking» corruption and nepotism* The association began as a small» compact» intense and intimate group of youngmen, with a tacit (even secret) understanding of more serious aims then the professed ones of "economy» unity» and general knowledge"• It was to be a recruiting centre and training ground for patriotic youngmen who wanted to start "something’’ for national liberat­ ion» but who were isolated and at a loss what to do* It had politics at heart but innocuous social action in public. At the time there was no real political party to which a sincere young nationalist could go» even if he felt strong enough* He had to organise his own; tho GCBA had fragmented into most dis­ reputable factions*

The leaders of the Youth league were daya Tint (Myoma national Iiigh School teacher» President)» Ko Hu (decretory for

a while» later the famous national leader)» Ko Ohn» (later better known by his association with U Ku than his own quiet activities)» daya Iloin (teacher at Myoma national High School)» ko khant (sometimes decretory» sometime Vice President)» Ko Ba

Thaung» Ko Ba dein» Ko Lay Maung, (three of them still in College» but soon became Thakins)» Ko Thi Han» Ko dan Thein (treasurer)» Ko Lu Tun, Ko Tun dein, Ko Maung Kyi, Ko Ba Tin, Ko Tun Tin, ko Ilia kaung, Ko Ba Thwin and so on. They rotated

the duties of leading the League among themselves as one or the other of them could make time available. Anyone who did not

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stay in Rangoon for more than one month had to resign from office; annual membership dues was only four annas (}4 rupee), but they had to chip in small change for their specific pro­ jects. They became active only in 1931 and opened their activities with a campaign for nationwide economy drive

appealing to people to wear native home-spun, pinni, to fore­ go foreign goods, and to give up smoking ^cigarettes for native cheroots.

They usually meet in Ko Tint's house, 279» Canal street, west Rangoon but called a meeting at the Studitha zayat (a public hall) at the Shwedagon pagoda for publicly openning their national economy campaign in June 1931* The

36

idea was well received by the press. They formed a special committee to go around town making appeals to people they see smoking cigarettes. It was a success and more groups went about the same activity. In a month there was a press re­ port that the import of tobecco and tobecco products had been reduced m a r k e d l y , a n d native cheroot rolling houses had sprung up producing cheroots of the size and general quality comparatively practical and attractive to the white collar class. The League also wrote articles on the need to revive national prosperity by personal economy and encouraging native

industries. The leaders went around districts organising more associations and also making public lectures about the 36* The Sun, daily, dated 24-6-31» 29-6-31 Studitha zayat