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Taunggyi ( Burmese : တောင်ကြီးမြို့ ; MLCTS : taung kri: mrui. [tàʊɰ̃dʑí mjo̰] ; Pa'o : ဝေင်ꩻတောင်ႏကီꩻ ; Shan : ဝဵင်းတူၼ်ႈတီး Shan pronunciation: [weŋ˥ ton˧˧˨ ti˥] ) is the capital and largest city of Shan State , Myanmar (Burma) and lies on the Thazi - Kyaingtong road at an elevation of 4,712 feet (1,436 m), just north of Shwenyaung and Inle Lake within the Myelat region. Taunggyi is the fifth largest city of Myanmar, although Taunggyi is the capital of Shan State, 45% of population are Pa'O people , and has an estimated population of 380,665 as of 2014. The city is famous for its hot air balloon festival held annually on the full moon day of Tazaungmon .

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81-568: The name Taunggyi means "huge mountain" in the Burmese language, and is named after the ridge on the east of the city, part of the Shan Hills system, whose prominent high point is called Taung-chun or "The Spur." Locally this spur is popularly known as Phaya Taung . The ridge has a more prominent and more popular feature known as Chauk Talone , meaning the Craigs . Prior to British colonisation , Taunggyi

162-469: A Myanmar National League (MNL) football club. 20°47′01.08″N 97°02′07.30″E  /  20.7836333°N 97.0353611°E  / 20.7836333; 97.0353611 Shan Hills The Shan Hills ( Burmese : ရှမ်းရိုးမ ; Shan Yoma ), also known as Shan Highland , is a vast mountainous zone that extends through Yunnan to Myanmar and Thailand . The whole region is made up of numerous peaks separated mostly by narrow valleys, as well as

243-702: A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck in Tarlay, Tachileik Township, in the Daen Lao range area on the eastern part of the hill system. It killed more than 70 and injured more than 100 people. Three hundred-ninety houses, 14 Buddhist monasteries and nine government buildings were damaged. Tatmadaw The Tatmadaw ( Burmese : တပ်မတော် ; MLCTS : tatma.taw , IPA: [taʔmədɔ̀] , lit.   ' Grand Armed Forces ' ), also known as Sit-Tat ( Burmese : စစ်တပ် ; MLCTS : cactap. , IPA: [sɪʔtaʔ] , lit.   ' Armed Forces ' ),

324-645: A state within a state . According to the Constitution of Myanmar , the Tatmadaw is led by the commander-in-chief of Defence Services . Some actions of the Tatmadaw require the approval of the National Defence and Security Council , an eleven-member national security council responsible for security and defence affairs in Myanmar. The president of Myanmar has no command role over the Tatmadaw, though he may work with

405-497: A Burmese battalion in the 70th Burma Rifles, a Burmese company in the 85th Burma Rifles , and seven Burmese Mechanical Transport companies. In addition, three companies ( combat units ) of Burma Sappers and Miners , made up of mostly Burmese, and a company of Labour Corps , made up of Chins and Burmese, were also raised. All these units began their overseas assignment in 1917. The 70th Burma Rifles served in Egypt for garrison duties while

486-406: A defence cooperation agreement. The agreement will envisage exchanging information on international security issues, including fight against terrorism, cooperation in the sphere of culture and vacation of servicemen and their families, along with exchanging experience in peacekeeping activities. Moreover, in response to Naypyidaw's post-2011 political and economic reforms, Australia re-established

567-532: A few broader intermontane basins . The ranges in the area are aligned in such a way that they link to the foothills of the Himalayas further to the northwest. The highest point is Loi Leng , at an elevation of 2,673 metres (8,770 ft). Other peaks are the 2,565 m (8,415 ft) Mong Ling Shan , 2,565 m (8,415 ft) Doi Inthanon and 2,563 m (8,409 ft) m Loi Pangnao . All are ultra prominent peaks of Southeast Asia . The name of

648-509: A half hour drive from Mandalay , it was one of the retreats for colonial officials escaping the heat of the Burmese summer. Pyin Oo Lwin is still known for its botanical gardens and, like all British hill stations , has samples of colonial architecture . Presently Inle Lake near Yawnghwe is one of the tourist attractions of the Shan highlands. The Taunggyi Bird Sanctuary , established in 1906 as

729-418: A humiliating defeat for the Tatmadaw. The Tatmadaw leadership then argued that the excessive media coverage was partly to blame for the failure of Operation "Naga Naing". For example, Brigadier General Maung Maung pointed out that newspapers, such as the "Nation", carried reports detailing the training and troops positioning, even went as far to the name and social background of the commanders who are leading

810-756: A member of the Thirty Comrades , became Commander of North Burma Subdistrict Command (NBSD). Due to deteroriating political situations in 1957, the then Prime Minister of Burma , U Nu invited General Ne Win to form a " Caretaker Government " and handed over power on 28 October 1958. Under the stewardship of the Military Caretaker Government, parliamentary elections were held in February 1960. Several high-ranking and senior officers were dismissed due to their involvement and supporting various political parties. The elections of 1960 had put U Nu back as

891-495: A strength of approximately 15,000. Disillusioned by the Japanese occupation , the BNA switched sides, and joined the allied forces on 27 March 1945. At the time of Myanmar's independence in 1948, the Tatmadaw was weak, small and disunited. Cracks appeared along the lines of ethnic background , political affiliation , organisational origin and different services. The most serious problem

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972-516: A ‘normal’ bilateral relationship with Myanmar to support democratisation and reform. In June 2016, the Australian Federal Police signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with its Myanmar counterparts aimed at enhancing transnational crime cooperation and intelligence sharing. In December 2017, the US imposed sanctions on General Maung Maung Soe , a general of Western Myanmar Command who oversaw

1053-604: Is also a significant Christian population, as the center of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Taunggyi the St. Joseph's Cathedral and its associated seminary are the main facilities, as well as a Baptist church. Both churches were established by early missionaries. There is also a smaller Anglican church , which originally served the British administrators, but recently it has fallen into a state of disrepair. Four mosques serve

1134-449: Is otherwise surrounded by mountain range. The city is 635 kilometres (395 mi) from Yangon (Rangoun) by road. Taunggyi has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cwa ), closely bordering a subtropical highland climate ( Cwb ). There is a winter dry season (December–March) and a summer wet-season (April–November). Temperatures are very warm throughout the year; the winter months (December–February) are milder but

1215-677: Is that Intha row the boat with their leg. On the way to the Pindaya Caves provides visitors with a good view of the Myelat countryside. Near Taunggyi, in Kekku, there are hundreds of stupas which dates back to 16th century. There is no significant industry in Taunggyi. It used to be the trans-shipment point for many of the agricultural products of southern Shan State. However, due to recently imposed zoning regulations, most of these operations have been moved to

1296-1010: Is the armed forces of Myanmar (formerly Burma). It is administered by the Ministry of Defence and composed of the Myanmar Army , the Myanmar Navy and the Myanmar Air Force . Auxiliary services include the Myanmar Police Force , the Border Guard Forces , the Myanmar Coast Guard , and the People's Militia Units. Since independence in 1948, the Tatmadaw has faced significant ethnic insurgencies , especially in Chin , Kachin , Kayin , Kayah , and Shan states. General Ne Win took control of

1377-593: The 2015 election ; after the USDP lost another election in 2020 , the Tatmadaw annulled the election and deposed the civilian government . The Tatmadaw has been widely accused by international organizations of human rights violation and crimes against humanity ; including ethnic cleansing , political repression , torture , sexual assault , war crimes , extrajudicial punishments (including summary executions ) and massacre of civilians involved in peaceful political demonstrations . The Tatmadaw has long operated as

1458-548: The East India Company forces (and later the British Indian Army ), instead relying on pre-existing Indian sepoys and Nepalese Gurkhas to garrison the nascent colony. Due to mistrust of the Burmese population, the colonial government maintained this ban for decades, instead looking to the indigenous Karens , Kachins and Chins to form new military units in the colony. In 1937, the colonial government overturned

1539-559: The Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC). Revenues generated from these business interests have strengthened the Burmese military's autonomy from civilian oversight, and have contributed to the military's financial operations in "a wide array of international human rights and humanitarian law violations." Revenues from MEHL and MEC are kept "off-book," enabling

1620-454: The Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) and it occupies a significant portion of the north-east area of the city. Shan State Cultural Museum lies in Taunggyi. The museum displays the Shan culture, as well as items of historical interest, such as the belongings of Sawbwa . The Taunggyi area is a popular tourist destination. The city itself has an interesting five-day market , where farmers from around

1701-609: The Tazaungdaing Festival , a national holiday marking the end of the rainy season, has achieved international notoriety for pyrotechnic rockets involved in the Taunggyi Hot Air Balloon Festival . There were nine people injured in 2018, two deaths and 12 injuries in 2017, and four deaths in 2014. Being the capital of the Shan State, Taunggyi hosts many government offices. The city also hosts Eastern Command of

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1782-666: The military's crackdown in Rakhine State. The Tatmadaw had sentenced seven soldiers to 10-year prison terms for killing 10 Rohingya men in Rakhine in September 2017. A 2019 UN report revealed the degree to which the country's military uses its own businesses, foreign companies and arms deals to support, away from the public eye, a “brutal operations” against ethnic groups that constitute “serious crimes under international law”, bypassing civilian oversight and evading accountability. In June 2020,

1863-411: The war effort being the important element of the doctrine. The objective was to contain the offensive of the invading forces at the border for at least three months, while waiting for the arrival of international forces, similar to the police action by international intervention forces under the directive of United Nations during the war on Korean peninsula . However, the conventional strategy under

1944-663: The 17th and 18th centuries respectively, the army proved unable to match the military strength of the British Empire in the 19th century, losing the First , Second and Third Anglo-Burmese Wars . On 1 January 1886, the Royal Burmese Army was formally disbanded by the British government . Under British rule , the colonial government in Burma abstained from recruiting Burmese soldiers into

2025-508: The 19th century. The army was organised into a small standing army of a few thousands, which defended the capital and the palace, and a much larger conscription -based wartime army. Conscription was based on the ahmudan system, which required local chiefs to supply their predetermined quota of men from their jurisdiction on the basis of population in times of war. The wartime army also consisted of elephantry , cavalry , artillery and naval units. Firearms , first introduced from China in

2106-577: The Adjutant General Office. The Quarter Master General office also had three branch offices: QG-1 planning, procurement, and budget; QG-2 maintenance, construction, and cantonment; and QG-3 transportation. Under the QMG office were Garrison Engineering Corps, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Corps, Military Ordnance Corps, and the Supply and Transport Corps. Both AG and QMG office similar structure to

2187-631: The Army in Burma had been placed for command and general administration under [it]. As it was, up to November 1940 Burma was directly under the War Office at home; it was then placed under Far Eastern Command at Singapore. Neither arrangement even bordered upon common sense, but although three times in 1940 and 1941 successive commanders-in-chief urged the authorities in the United Kingdom to place Burma [under India], it

2268-609: The Army shoots, it has no tradition of shooting into the Air, it would shoot straight to hit". Subsequently, the 22 Light Infantry Division, 33 Light Infantry Division and the 44 Light Infantry Division were redeployed to Yangon from front line fighting against ethnic insurgents in the Karen states. Battalions from three Light Infantry Divisions, augmented by infantry battalions under Yangon Regional Military Command and supporting units from Directorate of Artillery and Armour Corps were deployed during

2349-648: The British Burma Army and Army of Burma Reserve Organisation (ABRO). The colonial government also decided to form what were known as "Class Battalions" based on ethnicity. There were a total of 15 rifle battalions at the time of independence and four of them were made up of former members of PBF. None of the influential positions within the War Office and commands were manned with former PBF Officers. All services including military engineers , supply and transport, ordnance and medical services, Navy and Air Force were commanded by former Officers from ABRO. The War Office

2430-472: The British moved their administrative offices from Maing Thauk (Fort Stedman) on the eastern shores of Inle Lake to the higher elevation of Taunggyi, for health and geographical reasons. Although geographically within the state of Yawnghwe , the town was denoted as a "notified area" by the British, exempt from the Sawbwa 's administration. By 1906, there existed a thousand houses. Because of civil unrest throughout

2511-749: The Burmese Labour Corps served in France. One company of Burma Sappers and Miners distinguished themselves in Mesopotamia at the crossing the Tigris . After the First World War , the colonial government stopped recruiting Burmese soldiers, and discharged all but one Burmese companies, which had been abolished by 1925. The last Burmese company of Burma Sappers and Miners too was disbanded in 1929. Instead, Indian soldiers and other ethnic minorities were used as

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2592-485: The Burmese military. However, the military budget remains opaque and subject to limited civilian scrutiny, and a 2011 Special Funds Law has enabled the Burmese military to circumvent parliamentary oversight to access supplemental funding. Defence budgets were publicly shared for the first time in 2015, and in recent years, parliamentary lawmakers have demanded greater transparency in military spending. The military also generates substantial revenue through 2 conglomerates,

2673-657: The Chief of Air Staff became the Vice Chief of Staff (Air). On 1 January 1956, the War Office was officially renamed as the Ministry of Defence . General Ne Win became the first Chief of Staff of the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) to command all three services – Army, Navy and Air Force – under a single unified command for the first time. Brigadier General Aung Gyi was given the post of Vice Chief of Staff (Army). Brigadier General D. A Blake became commander of South Burma Subdistrict Command (SBSD) and Brigadier General Kyaw Zaw,

2754-588: The General Staff Office, but they only had three ASO-III and three QSO-III respectively. The Navy and Air Force were separate services under the War office but under the chief of staff. As per War Office order No. (9) 1955 on 28 September 1955, the Chief of Staff became the Commander in Chief, the Chief of Army Staff became the Vice Chief of Staff (Army), the Chief of Naval Staff become Vice Chief of Staff (Navy) and

2835-601: The Military Intelligence Service functioned as the secret police of the state. At the height of the Four Eights Uprising against the socialist government, Former General Ne Win , who at the time was chairman of the ruling Burma Socialist Programme Party ( BSPP ), issued a warning against potential protestors during a televised speech. He stated that if the "disturbances" continued the "Army would have to be called and I would like to make it clear that if

2916-577: The Muslim communities of the city. Among four mosques, Panthay mosque serves the Chinese Panthay Muslims mainly. The other mosques are for large population of Burmese Muslims . There are also a few temples serving the Chinese Buddhist community. After 1990s, Chinese migrants are settling in Taunggyi and now they constitute the considerable proportion in communities. The Taunggyi celebration of

2997-502: The NDSC in authorizing military action. The name "Tatmadaw" literally means "Royal Armed Forces" in the Burmese language . Since Burma has not been a monarchy since the era prior to British colonial rule, the word "royal" in this usage is understood to mean "glorious". This name has become controversial in Myanmar, especially since 2021, as many people in Myanmar have opposed the military during

3078-531: The Prime Minister and Pyidaungsu Party ( Union Party ) led civilian government resume control of the country. On 2 March 1962, the then Chief of Staff of Armed Forces, General Ne Win staged a coup d'état and formed the " Union Revolutionary Council ". Around midnight the troops began to move into Yangon to take up strategic position. Prime Minister U Nu and his cabinet ministers were taken into protective custody. At 8:50 am, General Ne Win announced

3159-649: The Shan Highland is a combination of hill ranges, steep river valleys and a few elevated plains. The area is the primary source of Myanmar's sapphires , rubies and other gems , for which the country is known; it is also a principal source of lead , silver and zinc . The high plain averages about 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) in elevation , and is sparsely populated. The Shan Hills straddle central eastern Myanmar and northwestern Thailand. They rise steeply from Myanmar's central plain and stretch for hundreds of kilometres eastwards into Thailand's northwest. The surface of

3240-498: The Shan States during the early 1900s, Taunggyi served as the chief garrison for military police. Taunggyi also served as a supply centre for the Shan States, and catered to persons of many nationalities. Taunggyi is at an elevation of 4,712 feet (1,436 m) above sea level. It sits on a high intermontaine basin (erroneously called a plateau) that rapidly descends to the western lowland river valleys that make up central Myanmar, but

3321-604: The State Administration Council was re-formed as a caretaker government , which appointed Min Aung Hlaing as Prime Minister . The same day, Min Aung Hlaing announced that the country's state of emergency had been extended by an additional two years. As the Myanmar Civil War has progressed, the Tatmadaw has become more reliant on military aid from Russia and China . As of 2023, analysts suggested that

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3402-433: The Tatmadaw accused China for arming rebel groups in the country's frontier areas. In February 2021, the Tatmadaw detained Aung San Suu Kyi and other high-ranking politicians after a contested election with disputed results. A state of emergency had been declared for one year. The State Administration Council was established by Min Aung Hlaing on 2 February 2021 as the current government in power. On 1 August 2021,

3483-501: The Tatmadaw does not approve of. In 2010, conscription legislation was passed that compelled able-bodied men and women between 18–45 and 18–35 respectively to serve up to three years in the military, or face significant jail sentences. Following Myanmar's political reforms, Myanmar has made substantial shifts in its relations with major powers China , Russia and the United States . In 2014, Lieutenant-General Anthony Crutchfield ,

3564-454: The Tatmadaw forces, which saw the Rohingya minority facing oppression and, starting in 2017, genocide . In 2008, the Tatmadaw again rewrote Myanmar's constitution , installing the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in the 2010 elections , which were boycotted by most opposition groups. Political reforms over the next half-decade culminated in a sweeping NLD victory in

3645-482: The Tatmadaw has sustained significant losses due to both combat against the pro-democracy insurgents as well as desertions within the rank and file soldiers. The United States Institute for Peace estimates that the Tatamadaw has sustained at least 13,000 combat losses and 8,000 losses due to desertion . The Tatmadaw itself has acknowledged that it does not have control over 132 of Myanmar’s 330 townships, or 42 percent of

3726-521: The Taunggyi Wildlife Reserve was redesignated as a bird sanctuary in 1989. Owing to the insurgency and the activity of the Tatmadaw in the area many local people living in the mountainous areas of the Shan Hills moved across the border to Thailand where they live in refugee camps . Despite the ongoing insurgency, the Shan Hills grows most of Myanmar's potatoes . On 24 March 2011,

3807-471: The area would come to the Taunggyi on market day and sell fresh produce in the open market, but with more development of the city, the significance of market day has been lessened. However, the market-day tradition continues strong in the outlying small towns. Nearby, Inle Lake is the home of the unique Intha culture . Inlay is famous for its traditional crafts industry and floating markets that are accessible via traditional longboats. The most unique thing

3888-402: The ban, and Burmese troops started to enlist in small numbers in the British Indian Army . At the beginning of the First World War , the only Burmese military regiment in the British Indian Army , the 70th Burma Rifles , consisted of three battalions , made up of Karens , Kachins and Chins . During the conflict, the demands of war led to the colonial government relaxing the ban, raising

3969-413: The command of General Staff Office. According to the war establishment adopted on 14 April 1948, Chief of Staff was under the War Office with the rank of major general . It was subsequently upgraded to a lieutenant general . Vice Chief of Staff was a brigadier general . The Chief of Staff was staffed with GSO-I with the rank of lieutenant colonel , three GSO-II with the rank of major, four GSO-III with

4050-423: The concept of total war was undermined by the lack of appropriate command and control system, proper logistical support structure, sound economic bases and efficient civil defence organisations. At the beginning of the 1950s, while the Tatmadaw was able to reassert its control over most part of the country, Kuomintang (KMT) troops under General Li Mi , with support from the United States , invaded Burma and used

4131-656: The country in a 1962 coup d'état , attempting to build an autarkic society called the Burmese Way to Socialism . Following the violent repression of nationwide protests in 1988 , the military agreed to free elections in 1990 , but ignored the resulting victory of the National League for Democracy and imprisoned its leader Aung San Suu Kyi . The 1990s also saw the escalation of the conflict involving Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State due to RSO attacks on

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4212-421: The country's renewed civil war and object to the usage of the complimentary term "royal" to describe it. As a result, many Burmese people have taken to using an alternative name "Sit-Tat", which simply means "military" with no positive or negative connotations. Some citizens and activists also use the openly derogatory variant "Sit-kwe", which means "dog-soldiers", in reference to the perceived blind loyalty of

4293-506: The country's frontier as a springboard for attack against China , which in turn became the external threat to state security and sovereignty of Burma. The first phase of the doctrine was tested for the first time in Operation "Naga Naing" in February 1953 against invading KMT forces. The doctrine did not take into account logistic and political support for KMT from the United States and as a result it failed to deliver its objectives and ended in

4374-476: The country's towns. On 10 February 2024, the State Administration Council activated conscription under the 2010 SPDC People's Military Service Law in response to anti-junta ethnic militias and pro-democracy rebels capturing massive swathes of territory. According to an analysis of budgetary data between FY 2011–12 and 2018–19, approximately 13% to 14% of the national budget is devoted to

4455-532: The coup over the radio. He said " I have to inform you, citizens of the Union that Armed Forces have taken over the responsibility and the task of keeping the country's safety, owing to the greatly deteriorating conditions of the Union. " The country would be ruled by the military for the next 12 years. The Burma Socialist Programme Party became the sole political party and the majority of its full members were military. Government servants underwent military training and

4536-406: The crackdown against the protests began. The armed forces under General Saw Maung formed a State Law and Order Restoration Council , repealed the constitution and declared martial law on 18 September 1988. By late September the military had complete control of the country. In 2008, the current constitution was released by the military government for a public referendum. The SPDC claimed that

4617-619: The deputy commander of the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM), was invited to address his counterparts at the Myanmar National Defence College in Naypyidaw , which trains colonels and other high-ranking military officers. In May 2016, Myanmar's Union Parliament approved a military cooperation agreement with Russia following a proposal by Deputy Minister of Defence. In June 2016, Myanmar and Russia signed

4698-548: The early 1950s to cope with external threats from more powerful enemies with a strategy of Strategic Denial under conventional warfare . The perception of threats to state security was more external than internal threats. The internal threat to state security was managed through the use of a mixture of force and political persuasion. Lieutenant Colonel Maung Maung drew up defence doctrine based on conventional warfare concepts, with large infantry divisions , armoured brigades , tanks and motorised war with mass mobilisation for

4779-401: The late 14th century, became integrated into strategy only gradually over many centuries. The first special musket and artillery units, equipped with Portuguese matchlocks and cannon , were formed in the 16th century. Outside the special firearm units, there was no formal training program for the regular conscripts, who were expected to have a basic knowledge of self-defence, and how to operate

4860-415: The massif or system of ranges, is derived from the Shan State and its peoples, said in its turn to be derived from the word " Siam ", that occupies most of the Shan Highland area. Since it was relatively unexplored until recent times, the Shan mountainous region was referred to as the "Shan Plateau" in geographic works of the British colonial period , a name that is still sometimes used. However, since

4941-411: The military to autonomously finance military affairs with limited civilian oversight. Between 1990 and 2020, Myanmar's military officers received US$ 18 billion in dividends from MEHL, whose entire board is made up of senior military officials. In the FY 2019–20 national budget, the military was allocated 3,385 billion kyats (approximately US$ 2.4 billion). In May 2020, the Burmese parliament reduced

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5022-412: The military's supplementary budgetary request by $ 7.55 million. On 28 October 2014, the Minister for Defence Wai Lwin revealed at a Parliament session that 46.2% of the budget is spent on personnel cost, 32.89% on operation and procurement, 14.49% on construction related projects and 2.76% on health and education. The initial development of Burmese military doctrine post-independence was developed in

5103-426: The musket on their own. As the technological gap between European powers widened in the 18th century, the army was dependent on Europeans' willingness to sell more sophisticated weaponry. While the army had held its own against the armies of the kingdom's neighbours, its performance against more technologically advanced European armies deteriorated over time. While it defeated the Portuguese and French intrusions in

5184-460: The nights can be quite cool. The main access to Taunggyi is by the mountainous road. A railway line that passes through Taunggyi was recently built in 1995, but at the moment it offers no passenger service to Taunggyi. Regular railway passenger service to the rest of the country is through the town of Shwenyaung, 12 miles (19 km) to the west. The nearest airport is Heho Airport , 24 mi (39 km) about an hour driving distance, by road to

5265-522: The primary colonial force in Burma , which was used to suppress ethnic Burmese rebellions such as the one led by Saya San from 1930 to 1931. On 1 April 1937, Burma was made a separate colony, and Burmese were now eligible to join the army. But few Burmese bothered to join. Before World War II began, the British Burma Army consisted of Karen (27.8%), Chin (22.6%), Kachin (22.9%), and Burmese 12.3%, without counting their British officer corps. Compton Mackenzie wrote in Eastern Epic that after

5346-473: The rank of captain for operation, training, planning and intelligence, and one Intelligence Officer (IO). The Chief of Staff office also had one GSO-II and one GSO-III for field engineering, and the Chief Signal Officer and a GSO-II for signal. Directorate of Signal and Directorate Field Engineering are also under General Staff Office. Under Adjutant General Office were Judge Advocate General, Military Secretary, and Vice Adjutant General. The Adjutant General (AG)

5427-564: The recruits were Burmese , with little ethnic minority representation. Many of the fresh recruits lacked discipline. At Myaungmya in the Irrawaddy delta , an ethnic war broke out between Burmese BIA men and Karens , with both sides responsible for massacres. The Burma Independence Army was soon replaced with the Burma Defence Army , founded on 26 August 1942 with three thousand BIA veterans. The army became Burma National Army with General Ne Win as its commander on 1 August 1943 when Burma achieved nominal independence. In late 1944, it had

5508-431: The referendum was a success, with an approval rate of 93.82%; however, there has been widespread criticism of the veracity of these claims, partially because Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar a few days before the referendum, and the government did not allow postponement of the referendum. Under the 2008 Constitution, the Tatmadaw is guaranteed 25% of the seats in the parliament, making it difficult to pass meaningful reforms that

5589-435: The separation of India and Burma: These military forces were expanded between 1939 and the end of 1941, but the additional strength was impaired by defects inherent in the organisation as it stood before separation. The small and independent military command now set up had been carved out of the experienced Indian organisation with its comparatively large resources; adequate though this may have been for peacetime conditions it

5670-400: The soldiers. The Royal Armed Forces was the armed forces of the Burmese monarchy from the 9th to 19th centuries. It refers to the military forces of the Pagan dynasty , the Ava Kingdom , the Toungoo dynasty and the Konbaung dynasty in chronological order. The army was one of the major armed forces of Southeast Asia until it was defeated by the British over a six-decade span in

5751-446: The suppression of protests in and around the then capital city of Yangon. Initially, these troops were deployed in support of the then People's Police Force (now known as Myanmar Police Force ) security battalions and to patrol the streets of the capital and to guard government offices and building. However, at midnight of 8 August 1988 troops from 22 Light Infantry Division guarding Yangon City Hall opened fire on unarmed protesters as

5832-421: The surrounding new town of Ayetharyar . Another economy of Taunggyi is farming and gardening. Farmers around Taunggyi are mostly Shan and Pa-O ethnic origins. The main agricultural products of Taunggyi are potatoes, tea leaf, tomato, beans, damson and seasonal fruits. The city is home to: The 7,000-seat Taunggyi Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Taunggyi. The stadium is the home ground of Shan United FC ,

5913-752: The system is cut across by steep river gorges, part of the drainage basins of the Chao Phraya , the Irrawaddy , the Sittaung and the Salween or Thanlwin River which cuts across the plateau in a north–south direction. In British colonial times, the main hill station in Burma , Pyin Oo Lwin known in English as Maymyo, was built in the western region of the Shan Hills. At 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level and about one and

5994-454: The west of Taunggyi. Heho Airport has regular flights to Yangon , Mandalay and Bagan . Taunggyi is the melting pot for the Myelat area of the Shan State. Like in most of Myanmar, influence of Buddhism is most evidenced by the monasteries scattered throughout the city. However, being a relatively new city, the monasteries are not of historical significance and architecturally not unique. There

6075-422: The whole area lacks the expanses of relatively flat high terrain which are the main characteristic of a plateau , this label is rather incongruous. Geologically in the Shan Hills and their southern subranges, layers of alluvium are superimposed on hard rock. Karstic ranges are common, for large tracts of the hills are limestone . The Shan Hills are an important silver and ruby mining area. The area of

6156-543: Was a brigadier general whereas the Judge Advocate General (JAG), Military Secretary (MS) and Vice Adjutant General (VAG) were colonels. VAG handles adjutant staff matters and there were also three branch offices; AG-1 planning, recruitment and transfer; AG-2 discipline, moral, welfare, and education; AG-3 salary, pension, and other financial matters. The Medical Corps and the Provost Marshal Office were under

6237-589: Was a small Pa'O village of a few huts and the majority of Shan ethnic. The area lay on a wide shoulder of the Sittaung Hills of the Shan Hills and was populated by those ethnicities at the time. The signs of the original village of Taunggyi are long gone, but nearby villages can still be discerned quite easily. During British occupation, the town became the chief city and capital of the Southern Shan States. Taunggyi's modern development began in 1894, when

6318-648: Was not done until December 15th by which time it was too late." In December 1941, a group of Burmese independence activists founded the Burma Independence Army ( BIA ) with Japanese help. The Burma Independence Army led by Aung San (the father of Aung San Suu Kyi ) fought in the Burma Campaign on the side of the Imperial Japanese Army . Thousands of young men joined its ranks—reliable estimates range from 15,000 to 23,000. The great majority of

6399-643: Was officially opened on 8 May 1948 under the Ministry of Defence and managed by a War Office Council chaired by the Minister of Defence. At the head of War Office was Chief of Staff, Vice Chief of Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Adjutant General and Quartermaster General. Vice Chief of Staff, who was also Chief of Army Staff and the head of General Staff Office. VCS oversee General Staff matters and there were three branch offices: GS-1 Operation and Training, GS-2 Staff Duty and Planning; GS-3 Intelligence. Signal Corps and Field Engineering Corps are also under

6480-625: Was quite inadequate to deal with the expansion im- posed by a great war. The officers were drawn from the British service and the Indian Army with little hope of reinforcement in time of war except for the untrained resources of Burma. Before the outbreak of war with Japan and for some time afterwards Burma Army Headquarters was simultaneously a War Office, a G.H.Q,., a Corps H.Q. and an [Lines of Communication] Area H.Q. Matters of detail could have been worked out more quickly and efficiently by G.H.Q,. in India if

6561-662: Was the tension between Karen Officers, coming from the British Burma Army and Burmese officers, coming from the Patriotic Burmese Force ( PBF ). In accordance with the agreement reached at the Kandy Conference in September 1945, the Tatmadaw was reorganised by incorporating the British Burma Army and the Patriotic Burmese Force. The officer corps shared by ex-PBF officers and officers from

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