It was as if a secret team having access to British intentions was working behind the scenes for Indian interests. The other most important development was adoption of resolution number 11 which authorised the GCSS sayadaws to advise, direct, and sit in
at all GCBA Committee meetings as one body, and supervise the 39
Iktrs. administration. Prom a purely secularist lay modern educated political movement, total control by the sangha of its
entire machinery and policy was achieved and formalised at this 38. Han Tin, 8gg., Vol.ll, p.439, Resolution Ho.5; Har Ba, U,
Pers. Acct., p.76, "Burmese most impressed with Gandhi's campaign..so imitating it; non-coop., idea developed "Resolution Ho: 3 was..till self government is achieved Burma is not to be separated from India." (Knowing the
state of GCBA funds, and U Chit Hlaing's taste for grandeur as he became impoverished, Indian funds for the conference were suspect, and the quid pro quo to be resolution Ho.3*) 39* Han Tin, Sgg., Vol.ll, pp.442-3. Har Ba, U, Iers. Acct.«
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conference without any thought of serious and wide discussion of its implications* U Chit Hlaing and his cohorts without fore thought of the consequences;,: with no intention of actually
carrying out the purports of the resolutions had constitutionally subjected the nationalist movement to the authority of the sangha merely to be rid of the Ba Pe-IMBA group.
U Qttama after serving his sentence had become a heroic figure. He was invited all over Burma to make political speeches. On August 16, 1924 he went by special invitation to make anti-21 Party speeches in Mandalay. The local 21 Party leaders requested Police protection as a huge triumphal procession was prepared all over the town. The Police advised the GCBA (HPK) to avoid the section of the town which was wholely in favour of the 21 Party, but the advice was ignored. As the procession passed by one of the leaders* houses there broke out some stone throwing and return brickbat and bottle barrage. The Police stepped in, used rifles, injured many people and shot dead pongyi U Sandima. Pongyis U Zagara, U Wiseitta and 8 leaders of the GCBA were later put on trial. Among them was U Tun Aung Kyaw, the Treasurer; he was jailed 7 years. In his place U Tun Hla, a director of the Kangoon Cooperative Bank was appointed. At the insistence of the members U Tun Hla had to report on the state of the funds and accounts to the Executive Committee. The major discrepan cies discovered were due to President U Chit Hlaing making use of
40. Newspaper accounts stated that U Sandima was shot at point blank range by the DSP with his own pistol.
41
And the latter was still the funds for personal purposes,
asking the new Treasurer to settle more of his hills. The Committee tried to get U Chit Hlaing to straighten out the matter hut was ignored.
Sangha Assumption of Authority
In accordance with resolution 11 of the 11th Con ference the GC3S (Mandalay) sent two pongyis, U Wizaya, U Uyannuttra as supervisors at the HQrs. of the GCBA. But hy
orders of U Chit Hlaing, U P u and U Tun Aung Kyaw refused to allow the pongyis to take part in Committee meetings or the
42
daily routine or allow them into the liters. The pongyis of course knew, as most people who read newspapers did about the scandal of funds, and they had insisted on supervising the disbursement of funds. With the new Treasurer formally re porting more scandals to the Committee, the latter finding the responsibility too heavy to carry on its own, reported to the pongyis. The two pongyis tried to settle the matter quietly but If Chit Hlaing only gave arrogant answers. There fore the EC of the GC8S after meeting over the reports of the two sangha supervisors and that of U Tun Hla deputed a nego tiating committee of 6, i.e., 3 sayadaws from each of Upper 41. In addition to the building fund Rs.10,000 discovered in
1921, U Chit Hlaing had used Rs.13,000 out of Ngawun Flood Relief Funds, and had all his personal expenses settled out of the funds. U Tun Aung Kyaw had never restored the Rs.60,000 he kept in his bank; and Tharra- waddy U Pu was also living expensively at GCBA expense, even his wife's taxi fares came out of the funds, it was said (U Lar Ba, pp.84-86).
42. Resolution 11: In anything that is not against the Viniya, the GOES will direct, counsel, add, participate in all EC meetings, formulate rules, and the ECGCSS will be invited to every ECGCBA meeting.
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ILX
and Lower Burma GCG3 ^ to smooth things over* U Chit Hlaing at the first meeting with the sayadaws accepted sangha's
presence at the GCBA IIQrs. and promised to make good the mis sing funds, but afterwards at the instance of Tharrawaddy U Pu revoked liis promise. At a second meeting he rejected this
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