Editing Tatmadaw (section)

====1988 coup d'état====
{{main|8888 Uprising}}

At the height of the [[8888 Uprising|Four Eights Uprising]] against the socialist government, Former General [[Ne Win]], who at the time was chairman of the ruling [[Burma Socialist Programme Party]] ([[Burma Socialist Programme Party|BSPP]]), issued a warning against potential protestors during a televised speech. He stated that if the "disturbances" continued the "Army would have to be called and I would like to make it clear that if the Army shoots, it has no tradition of shooting into the Air, it would shoot straight to hit".<ref name="NWS">{{cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDRK4z5JZxc | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607112523/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDRK4z5JZxc| archive-date=2014-06-07 | url-status=dead| title=Dictator Ne Win threatening speech to the people in 1988 | publisher=Myanmar Radio and Television | date=23 July 1988}}</ref>

Subsequently, the 22 Light Infantry Division, 33 Light Infantry Division and the 44 Light Infantry Division were redeployed to [[Yangon]] from front line fighting against ethnic insurgents in the Karen states. Battalions from three Light Infantry Divisions, augmented by infantry battalions under Yangon Regional Military Command and supporting units from Directorate of Artillery and Armour Corps were deployed during the suppression of protests in and around the then capital city of Yangon.

Initially, these troops were deployed in support of the then [[People's Police Force]] (now known as [[Myanmar Police Force]]) security battalions and to patrol the streets of the capital and to guard government offices and building. However, at midnight of 8 August 1988 troops from 22 Light Infantry Division guarding Yangon City Hall opened fire on unarmed protesters as the crackdown against the protests began.

The armed forces under General Saw Maung formed a [[State Law and Order Restoration Council]], repealed the constitution and declared [[martial law]] on 18 September 1988. By late September the military had complete control of the country.