Than Shwe
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| Than Shwe | |
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Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 23 April 1992 |
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| Prime Minister | Khin Nyunt Soe Win Thein Sein |
| Vice President | Maung Aye |
| Preceded by | Saw Maung |
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| Born | 2 February 1933 Kyaukse, Mandalay, British India |
| Political party | SPDC |
| Spouse | Kyaing Kyaing |
Senior General Than Shwe (Burmese: သန်းရ်ဝ်ဟေ; IPA: [θáɴ ʃwè]; born February 2, 1933) is Head of State 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.
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[edit] Early life and career
Than Shwe was born in Kyaukse, Mandalay Division. He enlisted in the army, where he spent several years in the psychiatric hospital, being treated for post traumatic stress disorder after having served in the operations against KNDO (Karen National Defence Organisation) insurgents between 1948 and the early '50s.[1]
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.
He also obtained a seat on the ruling Burma Socialist Programme Party's Central Executive Committee.
[edit] Rise to power
The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) was created as a response to the democracy uprising of 1988, and Than Shwe was appointed as one of 21 members of the Cabinet of General Saw Maung.
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.
[edit] 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.
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.
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.
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.[citation needed]
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.[2]
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.[citation needed]
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.[3] 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.
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.
Than Shwe refused to meet the United Nations's special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, during his visits to Myanmar in November 2007 and on March 10, 2008.[4]
In early May 2008, Than Shwe refused many foreign aid workers from entering the country in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis (May 2, 2008). This led to many criticisms from the UN as well as the international community.
[edit] Health and family
He is known to be a diabetic,[3] 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 4 January 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.
In 2006, home video footage of Than Shwe's daughter, Thandar Shwe's wedding, was leaked on the internet, which sparked controversy and criticism from Burmese and foreign media for the lavish and seemingly ostentatious reception.[2][6]
After days of anti-government protests, there were unconfirmed reports that Than Shwe's wife and pets fled the country on 27 September 2007, possibly to Laos.[7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Brown, Kerry. "Paranoid, insular and inept, the junta has no Plan B", The Guardian, 28 September 2007, p.37
- ^ a b Beaumont, Peter; Alex Duval Smith (2007-10-07). Drugs and astrology: how 'Bulldog' wields power. The Observer. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
- ^ a b Justin McCurry, Jonathan Watts & Alex Duval Smith, How Junta stemmed a saffron tide, September 30, 2007 The Observer
- ^ How Myanmar leader snubs U.N. envoy, March 11, 2008
- ^ Burma's hardline generals. BBC News (2007-10-12). Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
- ^ Cropley, Ed (2006-11-02). Lavish Myanmar junta wedding video sparks outrage. The Star Online. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
- ^ Than Shwe's family in Laos Mizzima News, September 27, 2007.
[edit] External links
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Saw Maung |
Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (1992 – 1997) 1992 – present |
Incumbent |
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