This article is related to a current event 2007 Burmese anti-government protests. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (March 2007)

Senior General Than Shwe (Burmese: သန္‌​းေရ္ဝ္ဟ; IPA: [θáN ʃwè]; born February 2, 1933) is the military dictator of Myanmar (Burma), serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Tatmadaw and chairman of the State Peace and Development Council since April 23, 1992. SPDC is the new name of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), established in 1988. He is also the Head of Union Solidarity and Development Association. These positions and titles effectively amount to Shwe being what is generally referred to as the "head" of Myanmar's ruling military junta. The State Peace and Development Council (Burmese: ; IPA: ; abbreviated SPDC) is the official name of the military regime of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). ... A chair or seat is also a seat of office, authority, or dignity, such as the chairperson of a committee, or a professorship at a college or university, or the individual that presides over business proceedings. ... The Prime Minister of Myanmar, formerly the Prime Minister of Burma is a high-ranking official in the government of Myanmar (or Burma). ... Lieutenant General Thein Sein is the acting prime minister of Myanmar. ... Political parties in Myanmar lists political parties in Myanmar (Burma). ... The Communist Party of Burma (Ba-ma-pyi Co-myu-ni pa-ti) is a political party in Myanmar (Burma). ... Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS), Burmese second largest political party, founded in 1988 by students and young activists; DPNS wants to build a democratic society based on freedom, national reconciliation, social justice, equality and human rights; one of the largest political parties; based in Thailand. ... The National Council of the Union of Burma is a liberal resistance organisation in Burma (Myanmar). ... The flag features a yellow dancing peacock, which has been a sign of freedom in modern Burmese history. ... The National Unity Party (Burmese: ; Taingyintha Silonenyinyutye) is a political party in Myanmar (Burma). ... The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy is a political party in Myanmar (Burma), representing the interests of the Shan minority. ... Zomi National Congress The Zomi National Congress (ZNC) is the name of a political party in Myanmar, registered in 1988. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... General elections were held in Burma on 27 May 1990. ... Human rights in Burma are a long-standing concern for the international community and human rights organizations. ... This politics-related article is a stub. ... Official language Burmese Headquarters In Exile in Rockville, Maryland,United States Prime Minister Sein Win Constitution December 18, 1990 national anthem Kaba Ma Kyei Web site Website of the NCGUB National Coalition Government of the Union Burma (NCGUB; Burmese: ???) is an exile government headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. ... The flag features a yellow dancing peacock, which has been a sign of freedom in modern Burmese history. ... Aung San Suu Kyi (Burmese: ; MLCTS: ; IPA: ); born 19 June 1945 in Yangon (Rangoon), is a nonviolent pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar (Burma), and a noted prisoner of conscience. ... The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy is a political party in Myanmar (Burma), representing the interests of the Shan minority. ... Protesters in Yangon with a banner that reads non-violence: national movement in Burmese A wave of anti-government protests started in Myanmar (also known as Burma) on August 15, 2007 and are ongoing. ... Burma (also called Burma) is divided into 14 administrative subdivisions, which include 7 states (pyi-neh) and 7 divisions (taing). ... Burma (also known as Myanmar) remains a pariah state to several nations due mainly to its human rights record. ... The renaming of Burma to Myanmar in the English language, decided by the Burmese military regime in 1989, has been controversial. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A high-ranking generals villa overlooking the golf course in Kalaw. ... The State Peace and Development Council (Burmese: ; IPA: ; abbreviated SPDC) is the official name of the military regime of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). ... is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... The State Peace and Development Council (Burmese: ; IPA: ; abbreviated SPDC) is the official name of the military regime of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). ... SLORC, or the State Law and Order Restoration Council was the name of the military government of Myanmar between September 1988 and November 1997. ... USDA flag The Union Solidarity and Development Association (Burmese: ; MLCTS: ; abbreviated USDA) is an organisation formed by State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) on 13 September 1993. ... A military junta is government by a committee of military leaders. ...

Early life and career

Than Shwe was born in Kyaukse, Mandalay Division. He enlisted in the army, where he spent several years in the psychological warfare department, served in the operations against KNDO (Karen National Defence Organisation) insurgents between 1948 and the early '50s.^[1] Kyaukse is a small town. ... Mandalay Division is an administrative division of Myanmar. ... A high-ranking generals villa overlooking the golf course in Kalaw. ... The U.S. Department of Defense defines psychological warfare (PSYWAR) as: The planned use of propaganda and other psychological actions having the primary purpose of influencing the opinions, emotions, attitudes, and behavior of hostile foreign groups in such a way as to support the achievement of national objectives. ...

In 1960, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. After the military coup of 1962 by General Ne Win, Than Shwe continued rising steadily through the ranks. He reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1972, Colonel in 1978, Commander of the South West Regional Command in 1983, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Brigadier-General and Deputy Minister of Defence in 1985 and then Major-General in 1986. Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Captain is a rank or title with various meanings. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... A high-ranking generals villa overlooking the golf course in Kalaw. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... A high-ranking generals villa overlooking the golf course in Kalaw. ... Brigadier General (sometimes known as a one-star general from the United States insignia) is the lowest rank of general officer in some countries, usually ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... This article is about the year. ... Major General or Major-General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ...

He also obtained a seat on the ruling Burma Socialist Programme Party's Central Executive Committee. Burma Socialist Programme Party (aka Lanzin) is a political party in Myanmar, formerly Burma. ...

Rise to power

The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) was created as a response to the civil unrest and democracy uprising of 1988, and Than Shwe was appointed as one of 21 members of the Cabinet of General Saw Maung. 8888 Uprising (Burmese: ; MLCTS: ) was a national uprising demanding democracy that took place on 8 August 1988 in Burma (now Myanmar). ... Saw Maung (1928 - 24 July 1997) was a political figure in Myanmar. ...

On 23 April 1992, Saw Maung unexpectedly resigned, citing health reasons, and Than Shwe replaced him as Chairman of the Council, head of state, Secretary of Defence and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...

Style of leadership

Than Shwe initially appeared to be more liberal than his predecessor, as he freed political prisoners and began to relax the restrictions on the democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi, who had been placed under house arrest after the abortive election of 1990. In 1993, he ordered the writing of a new Constitution. A political prisoner is someone held in prison or otherwise detained, perhaps under house arrest, because their ideas or image are deemed by a government to either challenge or threaten the authority of the state. ... Aung San Suu Kyi (Burmese: ; MLCTS: ; IPA: ); born 19 June 1945 in Yangon (Rangoon), is a nonviolent pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar (Burma), and a noted prisoner of conscience. ...

Than Shwe relaxed some state control over the economy, and has been a vocal supporter of Burma's participation in the Association of South East Asian Nations. He also oversaw a large crackdown on corruption, which saw the sackings of a number of cabinet ministers and regional commanders in 1997. Though he is often seen as not tolerating criticism, he has, for the first time in many years, allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross and Amnesty International to make visits to Burma. However, indirect restrictions diminishing some of the activities of the Red Cross, such as visits to local prisons, have been imposed. Red Cross representatives are for example no longer allowed into prisons unaccompanied, effectively rendering their objective impossible: to speak freely to prisoners about their living conditions. Main languages See Languages of ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong of Singapore Area  - Total 4,480,000 km2 Population  - Total (2004)  - Density 550,000,000 122. ... The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. ... Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a pressure group that promotes human rights. ...

The convention for the so called "Discipline Democracy New Constitution" was convened from 9 January 1993 to 3 September 2007, a period of more than 14 years and 8 months. Although the main political party, NLD, which won the Multiple Party Democracy General Election in 1990, did not participate, the chairman of National Convention Congress Lieutenant General Thein Sein announced that the creation of the "Constitution" has been accomplished. is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Lieutenant General Thein Sein is the acting prime minister of Myanmar. ...

He has continued the suppression of the free press in Burma, and has overseen the detention of journalists who oppose his regime. While he oversaw the release of Aung San Suu Kyi during the late 1990s, he also oversaw her return to detention in 2003. Despite his relaxation of some restrictions on Burma's economy, his economic policies have been often criticized as ill-planned. In the modern age, the free press has taken on multiple meanings. ... For other uses, see Journalist (disambiguation). ...

He maintains a low profile. He tends to be seen as being sullen and rather withdrawn, a hardliner and an opponent of the democratization of Burma. He marks national holidays and ceremonies with messages in the state-run newspapers, but rarely talks to the press. The lavish wedding of his daughter, involving diamonds and champagne, was particularly controversial in a country whose people continue to suffer enormous poverty and enforced austerity.

For many years, Than was seen as something of a figurehead as head of state, with the power over policy being held by his ministers. However, more recent reports suggest that, in recent years, he has been consolidating his power over the country. When he reached the mandatory retirement age of 60, he simply extended it, which has led to suggestions that he may remain as head of state for the rest of his life. Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. ...

Power struggles have plagued Burma's military leadership. Than Shwe has been linked to the toppling and arrest of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt, which has significantly increased his own power.^[2] Khin Nyunt was sacked and arrested in 2004. The former premier, who said he supported Aung San Suu Kyi's involvement in the National Convention, was seen as a moderate who was at odds with the junta's hardliners. General Khin Nyunt (born October 11, 1939 in Kyauktan, Burma) was the Prime Minister of Myanmar and the chief of intelligence of the Myanmar Army. ...

In May and November 2006 he met with UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari in the newly-built capital of Naypyidaw, which had replaced Yangon in the previous year, and permitted Gambari to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of Myanmar National Hero General Aung San. Dr. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari B.A., M.A., Ph. ... Naypyidaw (also spelt Nay Pyi Taw, literally Royal City) is currently the national capital of Myanmar, located in Kyatpyae Village, Pyinmana Township of Mandalay Division. ... Yangnon or Rangoon is the largest city of Myanmar. ... Aung San Suu Kyi (Burmese: ; MLCTS: ; IPA: ); born 19 June 1945 in Yangon (Rangoon), is a nonviolent pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar (Burma), and a noted prisoner of conscience. ...

Health and family

Than's daughter, Thandar Shwe, married Maj. Zw Phyo Win, an army officer and deputy director at the ministry of commerce in July 2006. A 10-minute video of the couple's marriage was posted on Youtube in November to the fury of Burmese people. The ceremony reputedly cost more than three times the state health budget; the tally of gifts, which reportedly include luxury cars and houses, were worth a total of $50m. The bride was dressed opulently, with glittering jewelled clusters in her hair, diamond ear-studs, and "at least six thick strings of what appear to be diamonds".^[3] According to The Guardian, the catering was arranged by Lo Hsing Han, who it describes as "one of south east Asia's infamous opium lords, 'reinvented' as a Rangoon businessman". ^[4] YouTube is a popular video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. ... Lo Hsing Han is an infamous Burmese drug trafficker, with financial ties to Singapore. ...

He is known to be a diabetic,^[2] and he is rumoured to have intestinal cancer. He rarely makes public appearances.^[5]

Than Shwe flew to Singapore on 31 December 2006. Concerns about Than's health intensified after he failed to appear at an official Independence Day dinner for military leaders, officials and diplomats on January 4, 2007. It was the first time since he took power in 1992 that Than did not host the annual dinner. Than Shwe had checked out of Singapore's General Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment, and returned to Burma two weeks later. is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Independence Day (disambiguation). ...

After days of mounting protests against Burma's military government and violent reprisals, there were unconfirmed reports that Than Shwe's wife and children fled the country on September 27, 2007, possibly to Laos.^[6] Protesters in Yangon with a banner that reads non-violence: national movement in Burmese A wave of anti-government protests started in Myanmar (also known as Burma) on August 15, 2007 and are ongoing. ... is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

See also

• Naypyidaw
• Tatmadaw

Naypyidaw (also spelt Nay Pyi Taw, literally Royal City) is currently the national capital of Myanmar, located in Kyatpyae Village, Pyinmana Township of Mandalay Division. ... A high-ranking generals villa overlooking the golf course in Kalaw. ...

References

The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ...

External links

Current events/Southeast Asia Portal

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Than Shwe

• Than Shwe's daughter's wedding - YouTube
• Understanding Burma's Generals

v • d • e Heads of State of Burma/Myanmar
Sao Shwe Thaik • Ba U • Win Maung • Ne Win† • San Yu† • Sein Lwin† • Aye Ko* • Maung Maung Kha • Saw Maung† • Than Shwe† † military     * acting

v • d • e Prime Ministers of Burma/Myanmar
U Nu • Ba Swe • U Nu • Ne Win† • U Nu • Ne Win† • Sein Lwin† • Maung Maung Kha† • Tun Tin† • Saw Maung† • Than Shwe† • Khin Nyunt† • Soe Win† • Thein Sein† † military