Ba U Gyi, Saw

Born in Bassin in 1905 to a wealthy landlord, after completing University in

Rangoon, in 1925, he became a lawyer and was called to the English Bar two
years later. Joined the Burmese Government in 1937 as Minster of revenue. After
the war he formed the Karen Nation Union, in 1946, to represent Karen interests
in post independence Burma and to call on the British to allow the Karens their
own state. He accepted the post of Minister of Information from 1946 to
February 1947 and then Minister of Transport before resigning in April 1947. In
January 1949 led the Karen uprising in Insein. Was killed in an ambush on the
12th August 1950, near a small village 170 miles away from Moulmein.

The journalist U Thaung, who wasone of the reporters called to the

scene recounts the following in his book 'A journalist, A General
and an Army in Burma.'

'The military officers continued the press conference on the plane.

Saw Ba U Gyi was captured dead, along with a high ranking Karen
rebel leader (Saw Sankey) and an English Major who had been
imprisoned for supplying arms (believed to be Captain Vivien who
provided the arms in the Aung san assassination) they claimed. The
journalist succeeded in getting the true story after cross examining
them.

The rebel chieftain were captured alive and killed even though
they had surrendered. 'They tried to run away when we arranged
to take them to our nearest military camp. We couldn't help it. There was no
way we could save them in such a situation. They said we could not print the
truth so we used the official version 'Captured dead'.'

In order to avoid making a shrine to the fallen Karen hero Saw Ba U Gyi's body
was thrown into the sea. To this day the 12th August is respected as Martyr's Day
and ceremonies marking Saw Ba U Gyi's death are conducted by Karens
throughout the world.

Source: Karen Museum