Born in 1916 in Maubin where he later became a school teacher . Mahn Ba Zan joined the KNU in early 1947 and became the first commander of its military wing, the Karen Nation Defence Organisation (KNDO), on the 16th July that year.
A strong socialist and political ideologue, he negotiated an alliance with the Communist Party of Burma, in 1952, which then led to the formation of an umbrella organisation; the National Democratic United Front (NDUF).
As Vice chairman of the KNU, and steering force behind it's vanguard party - the Karen National United Party (KNUP) he was responsible for unifying the delta and the eastern Karens, led by Bo Mya, together in 1968. He was KNU Chairman from 1969 until 10th August 1976 when he became Chairman of the newly formed National Democratic Front. He died at Manerplaw in May 1982.
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