Aung Thaung

Aung Thaung
Member of the Pyithu Hluttaw
Incumbent
Assumed office
30 March 2011
Constituency Taungtha Township
Majority 122,171 (92.92%)
Minister for Industry-1 of Myanmar
In office
15 November 1997 – 30 March 2011
Succeeded by Soe Thein
Personal details
Born 1 December 1940[1]
Taungtha, Mandalay, Burma
Nationality Burmese
Political party Union Solidarity and Development Party
Spouse(s) Khin Khin Yi
Children
  • Moe Aung
  • Nay Aung
  • Pyi Aung
  • Khin Ngu Yi Phyo
  • Thu Nanda Aung
  • Aye Myat Po Aung
Military service
Allegiance Myanmar
Service/branch Myanmar Army
Rank Lieutenant Colonel

Aung Thaung (born in Taungtha, Mandalay Division, Burma) is a Burmese politician and businessman. He currently serves as a member of the country's lower house, the Pyithu Hluttaw, representing the constituency of Taungtha Township, after being elected in the Burmese general election, 2010.[2] He and his family are among the wealthiest in Myanmar and have numerous business interests in the country, including Aung Yee Phyo Company and IGE Company Limited,[3] founded in Myanmar in 1994 and registered at Singapore in 2001.[4] License to establish a private bank, United Amara Bank, was granted with his son's name, Nay Aung, in 2010.[5]

He served as the country's Ministry of Industry-1 from 1997 to 2011 and is known for his close ties to Than Shwe and Maung Aye.[6] Widely considered a hardliner, he is known for his widespread business interests in Myanmar.[7]

He is often cited by opposition activists as one of the key architects of the Depayin massacre.[8]

He also served prominent leadership positions in the Union Solidarity and Development Association, the progenitor of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the country's military-backed political party.[6] On 2 May 2011, Aung Thaung was appointed Secretary 1 of the USDP, although he was [9]

Aung Thaung was also involved in brokering several ceasefire agreements with ethnic rebel groups, but was sidelined from the Burmese government's negotiating team with the Kachin Independence Organization in 2012, citing "health reasons."[7]

Family

Aung Thaung is married to Khin Khin Yi.[10] Aung Thaung's son Pyi Aung (also spelt Pye Aung) is married to Nanda Aye, the daughter of former ruling general Maung Aye.[6] His other son Nay Aung runs Aung Yee Phyoe Company, which deals in timber and the rice trades.[6] Pyi Aung and Nay Aung are also managing directors of IGE Company Limited.[11][12] His third son Moe Aung is a colonel in the Burma Navy.[10] He also has three daughters: Khin Ngu Yi Phyo, Thu Nanda Aung and Aye Myat Po Aung.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Announcement of Treasury Sanctions Against Aung Thaung".
  2. ↑ "Mandalay Division". Alternative Asean Network on Burma. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  3. ↑ "Ex-USDA in election race ‘have blood on their hands’". Mizzima. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "On the march to do business in Myanmar". www.atimes.com. Brian McCartan (26 August 2009). Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "Four Businessmen Granted Private Bank License". The Irrawaddy (31 May 2010). Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Aung Zaw (June 2007). "Aung Thaung: Burma’s Untouchable Minister". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Martov, Seamus (11 May 2012). "What Does the Future Hold for Aung Thaung & Sons?". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  8. ↑ SEAMUS MARTOV (3 November 2014). "What Does the Future Hold for Aung Thaung & Sons?". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "Lower House speaker Thura Shwe Mann appointed USDP chairman". Mizzima News. 10 May 2011.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Commission Regulation (EU) No 411/2010". European Commission. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  11. ↑ McCartan, Brian (26 August 2009). "On the march to do business in Myanmar". Asia Times. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  12. ↑ Sandar Lwin (23 May 2011). "Biz tycoon to launch a ‘Wall Street Journal’". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 29 October 2012.