Bo Let Ya
Major General Let Ya BC-3501 | |
---|---|
ဗိုလ်လက်ျာ | |
Bo Letya, Bo Sekkya and Bo Teza (Aung San) in Japan in 1941 | |
Minister of Defence of Burma | |
Deputy Prime Minister of Burma | |
In office 1948–1952 | |
Preceded by | None |
Commander in Chief of the Burma Defence Army | |
In office 1947–1948 | |
Preceded by | Aung San |
Succeeded by | Smith Dun |
Personal details | |
Born |
Hla Pe (လှဖေ) 30 August 1911 Pyinmana, British Burma |
Died | 29 November 1978 67) | (aged
Nationality | Burmese |
Political party |
Dobama Asiayone AFPFL Communist Party of Burma Parliamentary Democracy Party |
Occupation | Army officer |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Burma |
Service/branch | Burma National Army |
Rank | Major General |
Bo Let Ya (Burmese: ဗိုလ်လက်ျာ, pronounced: [bò lɛʔ jà]; also spelt Bo Letya; born Hla Pe; 30 August 1911 – 29 November 1978) was a Burmese army officer and member of the Thirty Comrades. He attended Myoma High School in Yangon.[1] He was involved in the 1947 Let Ya-Freeman Agreement.[1] He also founded the Patriotic Burmese Army in 1969, an exile rebel army based in Thailand. During the 1950s and 1960s, following his resignation from his political and military posts, he founded Martaban Fisheries and became a millionaire businessman.[2]
Throughout his career, he served the following posts:[2]
- Deputy Minister of War Affairs (1943–1945)
- Defence Councillor (July 1947–1948)
- Deputy Prime Minister (January 1948–1952)
- Minister of Defence
Following the 1962 coup d'état, Bo Let Ya was imprisoned by the Union Revolutionary Council from 1963 to 1965. On 29 November 1978, he was killed by Karen troops during a battle following a split in the Karen National Union's leadership.[2]