CONFIDENTIAL
Visit to Burma by L. P.R. Browning
APPENDIX C
20-24 October, 1967
I arrived in Rangoon on the night of 20 October on my first visit to Burma since December 1963.
2.
During my short stay arrangements were made for me to meet and have
discussions with Lieutenant Colonel Ohn Pe, the Inspector General of Police,
and U Than, the Vice Inspector General. Our talks were centred on the
availability of training for the Burmese People's Police Force in
Malaysia and I was asked to send the Inspector General the syllabi of the following courses:-
Riot Control
Senior and Junior Police Administration
Rural Policing
The Inspector General is anxious to obtain police magazines and catalogues on police equipment from the United Kingdom and I hope this can be arranged. 3. I was taken to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters at
Insein about five miles from Rangoon where I was shown the use of scientific aids to criminal investigation. I also visited Rangoon City Police Headquarters and was given a briefing on the organisation of the Rangoon
Police Division.
4. During the current year four Burmese Police Officers have attended
courses in Malaysia. This is the first time for some seven years that the Burmese have participated in the Police Training Programme for South
East Asia.
5. For the year 1968 two Burmese officers are expected to attend a course in the Techniques of Instruction at the Police College in Malaysia.
6. With the problems facing Burma it would seem that training for the Police in Jungle Warfare, Counter Insurgency and Intelligence would be particularly useful.
7. Throughout my visit I was accompanied by Major Vearncombe, the Assistant Military Attache, in the British Embassy. I was able to meet a number of Burmese Police Officers socially at his house. Apparently this was the first occasion for some years that Police Officers had been
to a West European's house. One hopes this may be the beginnings of a
thaw in the police attitude to assistance from the West.
8. My meetings with senior police officers took place in a relaxed atmosphere and I was warmly received by the Inspector General and his Deputy whom I have known from my previous visits.
9. The establishment of the Burmese People's Police Force is given as 44,000 officers and other ranks. It is probably about 4,000 below
strength.
CONFIDENTIAL