Aung San

Aung San, with Japanese support, formed the Burma Independence Army (BIA) in Bangkok. The BIA fought alongside Japan during the invasion of Burma in 1942, aiming to expel British colonial rule.

Aung San led the Burma National Army in a revolt against the Japanese occupation, switching allegiance to the Allied forces. This move positioned him as a key figure in post-war Burma.

Aung San negotiated the Panglong Agreement with leaders of ethnic minorities, including the Shan, Kachin, and Chin. The agreement promised autonomy for minority regions within a unified Burma, a key step toward independence.

Aung San and six members of his interim government were assassinated by a rival political group. His death occurred just months before Burma's independence, leaving a power vacuum.