Burma Socialist Party


The Burma Socialist Party, initially known as the People's Freedom Party was a political party in Burma. BSP was the dominant party in Burmese politics after 1948. It was the dominant political force inside the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League.
The party was founded in September 1945. It was a successor to the wartime People's Revolutionary Party. The military elite actively supported the build-up of the party. The party was founded in order to counter the influence of the Communist Party of Burma within the AFPFL. Before the foundation of the PFP, the communists had openly emerged as a bloc inside AFPFL. The PFP was founded by a nucleus consisting of Ba Swe, Kyaw Nyein and five others.
As Thakin Mya arrived in Rangoon in 1945, he became the chairman of the party. Ba Swe served as general secretary and Kyaw Nyein as joint secretary.
Seeking to counter the influence of the communist All Burma Trade Union Congress, the socialists launched the Trade Union Congress in November 1945.
In 1947 Thakin Mya was murdered alongside Aung San. Ko Ko Gyi became the new party chairman in July 1947. However in the summer of 1948, he was asked to resign from his positions in the party and the government. In reaction, Ko Ko Gyi left the party and joined the underground insurgency. After Ko Ko Gyi's defection, the post of chairman was abolished in the party. From that period onwards, the party was led by Ba Swe and Kyaw Nyein.
In 1948 the name of the party was changed to 'Burma Socialist Party'. In 1949 it became the 'Union of Socialist Party'. From 1950 onwards it was again called the 'Burma Socialist Party'. The party published The Socialist Front Weekly Journal.
The party initially relied on support from affiliated mass organisations such as the Workers' Asiayone, Peasants' Asiayone, Women's Asiayone, etc.. However, after 1950 the party developed into more of a cadre party. The strong links to the Trade Union Congress was retained though.
In December 1950 the party suffered a severe split, as the leftwing tendency in the party broke away and formed the Burma Workers and Peasants Party. The membership of the Burma Socialist Party is estimated to have dropped from around 2,000 to just 200 as a consequence of the split.
By 1956, the party membership was estimated at 6,000.
In 1964 the party was banned by decree of the Union Revolutionary Council lead by Ne Win.