Edith Mirante Profile picture
May 29, 2022 25 tweets 12 min read Read on X
1. This History Thread is about Britain’s relations with Burma (Myanmar.) A fraught legacy with centuries of trade, conflict, colonization, Independence, more trade, sanctions. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
2. Lands that would become Burma were of interest to British East India Company due to rivalry w. Portuguese, Dutch, French. Ralph Fitch visited 1587 for BEIC. 17th-18th C. British trade, teak shipbuilding, diplomatic relations w. Ava. Conflict on Arakan border w. British Bengal.
3. As Ava expanded west (Arakan, toward Assam, Manipur) 1st Anglo-Burmese War 1824-26. British military moved into Assam, Arakan & Irrawaddy River area but ravaged by diseases. Ava’s Gen. Maha Bandula killed. Treaty: British kept Arakan, Tenasserim + Assam, Manipur buffer zone.
4. 2nd Anglo-Burmese War 1852-53, British took Pegu (“Lower Burma.”) British diplomacy w. King Mindon (ruled “Upper Burma” 1853-78.) British Residency allowed in Mandalay. Christian missionaries arrive. British develop Lower Burma Rangoon city/port while Upper Burma landlocked.
5. Late 19th C. British-Burmese friction over French interests & timber concessions. 3rd Anglo-Burmese War: British moved swiftly Nov. 1885 to annex Upper Burma. They deposed King Thibaw & abolished Burmese Monarchy. British would govern Burma as part of their Indian Empire.
6. The new British rulers of Burma exiled King Thibaw & family members to Ratnagiri in western India. He died 1916 & was buried there. Conversely, British (Myanmar) exiled the last Mughal emperor of India, Bahadur Shah Zafar to Burma where he died 1862 & was buried in Rangoon.
7. British colonial administrators of Burma solidified their rule. In multi-ethnic entity now bound by borders they drew, conflicts resolved by force of arms & separate pacts w. various ethnic groups, some retaining autonomy. Karenni (Kayah) remained independent though tributary.
8. Burma soon became “Rice Bowl of Asia” as British colonists prioritized commodity exports & cultivating wet rice land for surplus production was encouraged. Arakan (now Rakhine St.) port Akyab (Sittwe) became one of world’s largest rice exporters.
9. Timber, especially valuable teak for shipbuilding & other uses, was another major export commodity for British colonizers of Burma, who adapted local practices in Burma Selection System. Foreign timber managers w. companies like Bombay Burmah Trading Corp.
10. British troops seized Burma’s Mogok ruby mines 1886. Burma under British exported silver, lead, zinc, tin. Oil production was taken over by (British) Burmah Oil Co., developed in Central Burma & Arakan w. refineries, ports. World’s 14th largest oil industry by start of WW2.
11. As British colonizers commercially exploited Burma resources, thousands of laborers were brought there from India. Indians also staffed civil service, military. Indian migrants engaged in business, including Chettiar money lenders who took over farmland when loans defaulted.
12. Under British rule Burma’s Rangoon became important city w. residents of many origins, identities, occupations. Commercial, cultural, educational institutions established. Trade & communications links to Asia, rest of world. Other ports incl. Akyab (Sittwe), Moulmein thrived.
13. British-ruled Burma was chronicled (& romanticized) by writers incl. G Scott, HP Cochrane, Kipling, WS Maugham. Critical view by ex colonial police officer Orwell. Photos by L Tripe, JH Green & art by C Grant, GF Kelly, EG MacColl contributed visual records.
14. British in Burma faced agricultural worker rebellions like Saya San revolt. Oil field workers started general strikes 1938. Intellectuals, literary figures, leftists sought independence. 1940 Japan covert support for Burma independence movement incl. Aung San, “30 Comrades.”
15. Japan invaded Burma 1942. British retreat to India w. thousands of Indian & other civilians. Some ethnic groups supported Japan, others Allies. Burma crucial for Allies vs Japan as supply route British India to China. British/Indian attempt to retake via Arakan failed 1942-3.
16. British/Indian forces under Gen. Slim repelled Japanese move toward India in battles Admin Box, Kohima, Imphal & began retaking Burma in 1944. British worked with local guerrillas in units like Chin Levies, Kachin Levies, Force 136 and deployed innovative long range Chindits.
17. Aung San shifted support to Allies during WW2 & negotiated Aung San-Attlee Agreement leading to Burma’s Jan. 1948 full Independence (not Dominion or Commonwealth.) Ethnic conflicts in the former British colony were never resolved, assessments of legacy of British rule differ.
18. Burma took a position of Cold War neutrality. Decades of military rule followed 1962 coup of Gen. Ne Win. Colonial past blamed for ongoing failures while neocolonial exploitation & suppression of ethnic regions pursued. Physical manifestations of British rule became decrepit.
19. Many exiles from Burma (Myanmar) dictatorship have lived in the United Kingdom. Aung San Suu Kyi graduated from Oxford, married a British man. The marriage was used by Burma’s military to prevent her becoming President. independent.co.uk/news/world/asi…
20. British companies invested in Myanmar after 1988. Premier involved in Yetagun gas 1992-2003. @burmacampaignuk has compiled Dirty Lists of companies like British American Tobacco in Myanmar military-linked ventures. Tourism companies use colonial nostalgia as a marketing ploy.
21. United Kingdom as part of European Union had economic sanctions vs Myanmar military rulers. 2012 UK PM David Cameron visited Myanmar ex-Gen. Pres. Thein Sein & Aung San Suu Kyi, proposed suspending sanctions. Aung San Suu Kyi visited UK 2012, ’16, ‘17. bbc.com/news/uk-politi…
22. After Rohingya genocide ’17 & Feb. ’21 coup, UK reimposed sanctions on Myanmar military & led UN resolutions of condemnation. But criticized for not acting enough in UN Security Council & for allowing coup regime to take over Myanmar's London embassy. aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/…
23. UK’s appointed Ambassador to Myanmar, Pete Vowles did not present credentials to the coup regime. His position was downgraded to chargé d’affaires by British govt. and Myanmar coup regime has denied him re-entry. irrawaddy.com/news/burma/uks…
24/24. Britain/Burma sources incl. Symes 1800, Cox 1822, Crawfurd 1834, Collis 1936, WS Desai 1939, DGE Hall 1943, Van Schendel 1987, Silverstein 1993, Sarbadhikary 1993, Aung-Thwin 2011, Simony 2013, @Jonathan_Saha blog. My previous Burma History Threads: projectmaje.org
Correction: Ralph Fitch’s 1587 visit to Burma predated founding of English East India Company (later British East India Company) which was in 1600; thanks @pakhead for pointing that out. Fitch was involved in starting EEIC & provided information from his voyage.

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Edith Mirante

Edith Mirante Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @EdithMirante

Apr 19
1. This (recent) History Thread is an overview of the trajectory of armed resistance to the Myanmar (Burma) 2021 coup as it has evolved into a relentlessly effective nationwide revolution. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar 🌿 Image
2. People all over Myanmar immediately resisted Feb. 1, 2021 coup with street protests & Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) strikes + boycotts. As coup regime reacted violently, many in resistance turned to armed struggle. Important: CDM also continues. cnn.com/2021/05/04/asi…
3. Myanmar (Burma) ethnic regions in armed conflict back to WW2, against military regimes since 1962. Most ethnic armies supported anti-coup resistance, formed alliances. National Unity Govt. (legit, anti-coup) declared "people's defensive war” Sept. 2021. irrawaddy.com/news/burma/eth…
Read 23 tweets
Jan 11
1. This History Thread is a brief overview of the complex #MilitaryHistory of Shan State, a multi-ethnic region of northeast Burma (Myanmar), which is a multi-ethnic country. Shan State is currently in news for #Operation1027 against the coup regime. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar 🌿


Image
Image
Image
Image
2. Region that became Shan States of Burma, now Shan State of Myanmar has fertile plateau, rivers, hills. Bordering China, Laos & Thailand. Shan (Tai) are ethnic majority in State, smaller populations incl. Pa-O, Ta’ang, Wa, Akha, Lahu, Danu, Gurkha, Yunnan-related Chinese.

Image
Image
Image
3. Sino-Tai speaking people who wd. be known as Shans in Burma arrived 10th-13th C. from north. 13th C. Shans in conflict w. Burman rulers of Pagan. Shans sometimes allied w. Mons of south vs. Burmans. 14th C. Ava on Irrawaddy River was seat of rulers of Burman & some Shan lands. Image
Read 24 tweets
Nov 3, 2023
1. This History Thread is background on Kokang, the Myanmar (Burma) region bordering China which is major part of current #Operation1027 (Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army & allies vs Myanmar coup regime.) 2009 conflict was especially important. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

Image
Image
Image
Note: Due to recent display change on this platform, headlines are now missing for linked articles, so please click on the linked images to view linked articles for posts 4, 6, 9-14. 🐦‍⬛
2. Mainly inhabited by Chinese ethnic people, 18th-19th C. Kokang was ruled by Yang family and a tributary of Qing Dynasty China. 1897 China ceded Kokang to British-ruled Burma. Yangs became aristocracy similar to system of neighboring Shan States, Kokang became part of Hsenwi. Image
Read 17 tweets
Oct 13, 2023
1. This History Thread is about war correspondents in Burma (Myanmar.) Many reporters have covered conflicts in Burma, incl. WW2 & ethnic defense vs military dictatorship. Current anti-coup revolutionary war is reported by local & foreign journalists. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar


Image
Image
Image
Image
Note: Due to recent display change on this platform, headlines are now missing for linked articles/videos, so please click on the linked images to view linked articles/videos for posts 8-16. 🐦‍⬛
2. In lands that would become Burma, warfare between dynastic rivals or ethnic/regional realms & wars with neighbors like China, Siam, Bengal were recorded in paintings, songs, poems & royal chronicles. Image
Read 19 tweets
May 19, 2023
1. This History Thread is about women of Burma (Myanmar) as soldiers & in other military roles. Women soldiers have often been providers of medical care. Current struggle vs coup regime is inclusive of female, transgender, nonbinary participants. #WhatsHappeningInBurma ImageImageImage
2. Ancient & early modern Asia had women warriors & military leaders. Queen Chamadevi was Mon military leader of Hariphunchai (n. Thailand.) Women in lands that wd become Burma were politically powerful/influential. Legendary Queen Panhtwar of Pyu still inspires anti-coup women. ImageImage
3. Gender roles varied by time, place, ethnicity in lands that wd become Burma. In his 1827 account of 1st Anglo-Burmese War, Maj. J. Snodgrass described 3 Shan “fearless Amazons” (believed to have supernatural ammunition-repelling powers) riding into battle vs British artillery. ImageImage
Read 24 tweets
Apr 25, 2023
1. This History Thread is about relations of Burma (Myanmar) with Bangladesh & Pakistan. Burma’s western neighbor Bangladesh was part of Pakistan from 1947-1971. In a region of turmoil, Bangladesh/Myanmar river border has been a lifeline for refugees. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar ImageImageImageImage
2. Arakan, now Rakhine State of Myanmar (Burma) was inhabited by Mro & Chakma people, later Rakhines & Rohingyas. Coastal & valley trading cities rose in Arakan from 3rd-4th C. By 14th C. Arakan a “vassal state” of Bengal Sultanate which spread out from Ganges–Brahmaputra Delta. Image
3. 1406 Burmese (Ava) invaded Arakan’s Lemro cities, whose ruler Min Saw Mon fled to Bengal Sultanate. 1430 Bengal’s Sultan Nasir-ud-din Shah helped Min Saw Mon retake Arakan from Ava. 1512–16 Bengal Sultanate conquered Kingdom of Mrauk U (Arakan.) Image
Read 24 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(