Thein Maung
Thein Maung was a Burmese politician and medical doctor. He was the first Burmese ambassador to Japan and one of the 21-leader members of the YMBA and the GCBA.
Early life
Thein Maung was born on January 2, 1891, in Paungde, Myanmar. He attended Paungde Government Middle School, Yangon Government High School, and St. Patrick's High School in Mawlamyine. In 1913, he received his B.A from Yangon College. He also received an M.M.F. in medicine from the College of Kolkata.Career
In 1923, he served as a member of the Diakite Legislative Council. From 1925–1926 and from 1931–1932, he served as the principal of Myoma National School. In 1934, he became a member of the Indian Legislative Council. While serving as a member, he sought to secede from India and regain the Burmese monastery in Bodh Gaya through the hands of the Hindu monk Mahan. In 1936, he served as a member of the Legislative Council of the United GCBA.Thein Maung served as Minister of Commerce of the Coalition Government led by Dr. Ba Maw, which was part of the 91 departments of administration. After Burma was occupied by the Empire of Japan, he served as finance minister in Ba Maw's government from 1942 to 1944. In 1944, he also served as the first Burmese ambassador to Japan in Tokyo.
The Thirty Comrades
Before the formation of the Burmese Army and Thirty Comrades, Thakin Mya, Kodaw Hmaing, Ba Lwin and others chose to lead Aung San to fight against the British in 1939. Colonel Suzuki Keiji arrived in Burma in May 1940 and met secretly with Maung, Hmaing, Mya, and Lwin in September. He helped Aung San and Hla Myaing to reach the Japanese military headquarters in Taipei from Amoi, and also helped them get to Japan via Taipei.Japan-Burma Friendship Society Dr. Thein Maung arranged for communication between Aung San and Colonel Suzuki Keiji. He was the main supporter of the Thirty Comrades led by Aung San and their main facilitator for military training in Japan.