THE POLITICS OF AUTHORITARIANISM: THE STATE AND

THE POLITICS OF AUTHORITARIANISM: THE STATE AND POLITICAL SOLDIERS IN BURMA, INDONESIA, AND THAILAND

ByChao-Tzang YawnghweM.A., University of British Columbia, 1990B.A., University of Rangoon, 1961

A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THEREQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OFDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHYinTHE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES(Department of Political Science)

We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard

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THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIASeptember 1997SYMBOL 227 \f "Symbol"Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe, 1997

ABSTRACT

This thesis investigates the impact of military rule on the state and society by looking at three cases from the same geographical region -- Burma, Indonesia, and Thailand -- that have experienced military intervention and military rule. The thesis is framed by a number of questions: Why does the military sometimes decide to stay on to run the state after it intervenes? What happens to the military, its leaders, and most importantly, the state and society when the military reorganizes the state into a military-authoritarian order? What are the political outcomes of military rule in terms of state autonomy? How can the political variations -- the extent of military penetration into the state order -- between military regimes be explained?

This thesis has found that there are three vital factors influencing the military's decision, having intervened, to stay on to rule the country. The most important factor is the emergence of an extraordinary military strongman-ruler. The second, and related, factor is military unity -- forged and maintained by the strongman-ruler and bound by the myth that the soldiers are the guardians and saviors of the state. The military supports the ruler and is in turn rewarded by him, and becomes a privileged class. Together they dominate and control other state and societal forces. In fact, while military-authoritarian states are highly autonomous from society, it is clear that the state is not well insulated from abuse by its own elites. The third factor is the extent to which the strongman-ruler is constrained by having to share power with an unimpeachable force (a person, ideal, or myth). This thesis has found that military rulers in Thailand have been constrained because of the person and the role of the monarch.

This thesis has also found significant variations in military-authoritarian states. They range from a nearly pure praetorian example to a tentative quasi-democratic set up -- resulting from historical circumstances combined with the vision, political will and astuteness of the strongman-ruler, his concern with his legacy, and the presence or not of an important constraining force. The military has played a dominant role in politics in Burma and Indonesia since the 1960s; in Thailand, it has been in and out of power since the 1930s. It has become apparent from this research that, although the global democratization trend is hopeful, it is not so easy to get a politicized military to go back to the barracks to stay.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract ..............................................................................................iiGlossary .............................................................................................v Acknowledgement ..............................................................................x

CHAPTER ONE: ..............................................................................1INTRODUCTION: SOLDIERS OR POLITICIANS?

CHAPTER TWO: .........................................................................................29THE MILITARY AND THE STATE

CHAPTER THREE: .......................................................................................66BURMA: MILITARY INTERVENTION AND THE POLITICS OF AUTHORITARIAN DOMINATION

CHAPTER FOUR: ........................................................................................141INDONESIA: MILITARY INTERVENTION AND THE POLITICS OF AUTHORITARIAN DOMINATION

CHAPTER FIVE: ..........................................................................................210THAILAND: MILITARY INTERVENTION AND THE POLITICS OF AUTHORITARIAN DOMINATION

CHAPTER SIX: ................................................................................276SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: THE POLITICS OF AUTHORITARIAN DOMINATION

BIBLOGRAPHY .............................................................................306-332

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GLOSSARY

B U R M A :Abha -- Revered Father (a term used by soldiers in reference to Ne Win)AFPFL -- Anti-Fascist People's Freedom LeagueAdipati -- Supreme Leader (a title adopted by Dr.Ba Maw)Anya-Manya Th'bawtra -- Burmese Socialist doctrine (See SCME)Bama Pri-Ma -- Bama Mother-countryBama Tatmadaw -- The Burma Army (or Tatmadaw)Baungbee-khyot -- Ex-military officer (Burmese slang)BCP -- Burma Communist Party (the White Flag Communist of Thakin Than Tun),BDA -- Burma Defence Army, the forerunner of the current Burma Army BIA -- Burma Independence Army, the forerunnerof the current Burma Army BNA -- Burma National Army, the predecessor of the current Burma ArmyBo -- (Bama and Shan), A military leaderBogyoke -- (Military rank) GeneralBogyoke-Wungyi -- General-MinisterBSPP -- Burmese Socialist Program Party, or Lanzin Party Chaofa -- (Shan) Ruling prince CPB -- Communist Party, Burma (Red Flag Communist of Thakin Soe). DAB -- Democratic Alliance of BurmaDobama Asi-Ayone -- We Bama Movement (Dobama)DSI -- The Defence Service InstituteDDSI -- The Directorate of Defence Service IntelligenceDuwa -- (Kachin) ruling chiefKIA -- Kachin Independence ArmyKKY -- ( Ka-Kwe-Ye): Homeguard unitsKMT -- (Kuomintang): Nationalist Chinese of Chiang Kai-shekKNU -- Karen National UnionLORC -- Law and Order Restoration CommitteeLu-Myo -- Race, nation, humankindLuptha-Prithu -- The working peopleMIS (Em-I) -- Military Intelligence ServiceMranma Sosheilit Lanzin Party -- The Burmese Socialist Program Party (BSPP)NCGUB -- National Coalition Government of the Union of BurmaNLD -- National League for DemocracyNSA -- National Solidarity AssociationNUF -- National Unity FrontNUP -- National Unity PartyThe Panglong Agreement -- An Agreement signed in 1947, forming the basis of the 1947-48 Constitution of the Union of BurmaPBF -- Patriotic Burmese ForcePri -- (or Pyi, Burmese) countryPrithu Hluttaw -- People's ParliamentPrithu-Yebaw -- People's Volunteer Organization (PVO)Pyinnya-tat -- An educated personRakhine People's Liberation Organization -- A Rakhine rebel armyRC -- The Revolutionary Council (1962-1974)SAC -- Security and Administrative CommitteeSaw-phaya -- (Karenni) Ruling prince SCME -- System of Correlation of Man and His EnvironmentSLORC -- State Law and Order Restoration CouncilSSA -- Shan State Army SNLD -- Shan National League for DemocracyThakin -- (Burmese) Master, overlordUnion Party -- A political party led by U Nu (1960-1962)USDA -- Union Solidarity Development Association

T H A I L A N D :BPP -- Border Patrol PoliceThe Chakri dynasty -- The currently reigning royal house Chart -- NationChart Thai Party -- The Thai Nation PartyClass 5 -- Fifth graduating class of the Military Academy after the adoption of the West Point curriculumCPT -- The Communist Party of ThailandFFT -- Farmers Federation of ThailandIsan -- The Northeastern regionISOC -- Internal Security Operation Command Kharatchakarn -- Officials, civil servants, bureaucratsLuang -- A title bestowed on high official (no longer current)Muang Thai -- Informal term for Thailand Nak-phendin -- Those "uselessly weighing down the earth", a term applied to leftists and radicals in 1973-76 NAP -- New Aspiration Party (of Chaovalit Yongchaiyuth, the current Prime Minister)Nawapol -- A rightwing organization of the urban middle and upper classNSCT -- National Students Centre of ThailandPhu-noi -- "Small" people; an "inferior", or subordinate person(s)Phu-yai -- "Big" man; a "superior" person(s)Prachachon -- The People Prathet Thai -- Formal term for ThailandRamwong -- A popular folk danceRath Niyom -- Cultural Edicts of Pibul SongkhramRed Gaur -- A rightwing para-military body of vocational studentsSangchat -- Nation-buildingSAP -- Social Action PartySawasdi -- A term of greeting Seri Thai -- The Anti-Japanese ("Free Thai") MovementSiam -- The name of the country before "Thailand" was adopted in 1939. UTPP -- The United Thai People's PartyVillage Scouts -- A royal-sponsored civil-action organization The Young Turks -- A radical officers group

I N D O N E S I A :Abangan -- nominal MuslimABRI -- Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia, the current Armed Forces Adat -- Customary lawAksi Sepihak -- Unilateral action BKR -- Bandan Keamanan Rakyat, a forerunner of ABRI BAKIN -- State Intelligence Coordinating BodyBAKORSTANAS -- National Stability Coordination BoardBudi Utomo -- An early nationalist organization or movementBupati -- Regent, administratorDharma Wanita -- The official Women's body DPA -- Supreme Advisory CouncilDPR -- Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, ParliamentDwi Fungsi -- Dual FunctionDwi-Tunggal -- Joint Leadership (of Sukarno and Hatta)The Fifth Force -- A force of armed workers and peasantsGerwani -- Women's Militia (of the PKI)Gestapu -- The 30