Ba Maw (February 8 1893 May 29 1977) was a Burmese political leader.
Ba Maw was born in Maubin , Burma (now Myanmar). He became an attorney, and achieved prominence in 1931 when he defended the rebel leader, Saya San . He soon became an outspoken advocate for Burmese self-rule and for less British involvement in Burmese affairs. He at first opposed Burma's colonial separation from India, but later supported it. After a period as education minister, he served as the first Prime Minister of Burma from 1937 to 1939, as a member of the Poor Man's Party. He opposed the participitation of Britain, and by extension Burma, in World War II and was arrested for sedition in 1940.
Ba Maw was released by the Japanese when they invaded Burma in 1942. He soon became a collaborator with Japan, and was made head-of-state of Burma in a Japanese-backed government in 1943. This government fell in early 1945, and Ba Maw fled to Japan, where he was captured later that year and held in an American prison until 1946. He then was allowed to return to Burma and he remained active in politics. He was jailed briefly during 1947, for alleged involvement in the assassination of Aung San, but was soon released. He founded the Mahabama (Greater Burma), which did not achieve power, and he retired from politics. He died in Rangoon.
