General Smith Dun

The 1948 Government of Burma was genuinely multi-ethnic

This photograph, taken in August 1948, shows the first President of independent Burma, Sao Shwe Thaik and Army Chief General Smith Dun inspecting troops in front of the Rangoon Corporation building after the declaration of martial law. The communist ("White Flag" and "Red Flag") People's Volunteer Organization and Mujahideen insurrections were in full swing. Karen, Kachin, and Chin battalions were fighting Burmese communist and PVO militias up and down the Irrawaddy valley. It was also a time (the only time)...