Than Shwe
Who was Than Shwe?
Senior General who ruled Myanmar as head of the military junta from 1992 to 2011, maintaining one of the world's most repressive military regimes.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Than Shwe (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Than Shwe was born on February 2, 1933, in Kyaukse, a town in Upper Burma. He got his early military training at the Officers Training School in Bahtoo and later studied at the M.V. Frunze Military Academy in the Soviet Union. In 1953, he joined the Tatmadaw, Myanmar's armed forces, and worked his way up the ranks over the next few decades. By 1985, he had become the deputy commander-in-chief of Defence Services, making him one of the most powerful figures in the military.
After the 8888 Uprising in 1988, a nationwide pro-democracy movement that the military violently suppressed, a coup brought General Saw Maung to power. Saw Maung made Than Shwe vice chairman of the newly formed State Law and Order Restoration Council, which was later reorganized as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), and also appointed him as deputy prime minister. Than Shwe continued as deputy commander-in-chief during this time. When Saw Maung resigned in 1992, Than Shwe took over leadership of Myanmar, becoming chairman of the SPDC and commander-in-chief of Defence Services. He also served as prime minister from 1992 to 2003.
During his nearly two decades in power, Than Shwe kept a firm grip on the country's political, military, and economic systems. His government suppressed political opposition, particularly targeting Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent years under house arrest during his rule. In 2007, his regime violently cracked down on the Saffron Revolution, a widespread protest movement led mainly by Buddhist monks. Human rights organizations labeled Myanmar as one of the world's most repressive states during his time, noting restrictions on press freedom, political imprisonment, and forced labor.
Despite this, Than Shwe oversaw some major projects. He ordered the construction of a new capital, Naypyidaw, which was unveiled in 2005 and became the official government seat in 2006. He was linked to the building of the Uppatasanti Pagoda, a replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda, in Naypyidaw. In 2008, his government introduced a new constitution that set up a framework for a nominally civilian government but kept significant military power in politics.
In 2011, Than Shwe announced his retirement and passed power to Thein Sein, a former general who became president under the new constitution. Command of the armed forces went to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Than Shwe was given the Order of Burma during his rule. Though he stepped back from public life after 2011, many believed he still had influence over the military and political scene. He remained married to Kyaing Kyaing throughout his public life.
Before Fame
Than Shwe grew up in Kyaukse during a time of major change in Burmese history. He reached adulthood as Burma moved from British colonial rule to independence in 1948, a time filled with political unrest, ethnic conflict, and the rise of the Tatmadaw as the leading force in the country. These early experiences shaped the military officers who would impact Myanmar's politics for many years.
He joined the armed forces in 1953, taking training at the Officers Training School in Bahtoo and later at the M.V. Frunze Military Academy in the Soviet Union, which was a common place for military education among officers from non-aligned and socialist-leaning countries during the Cold War. He moved up the ranks steadily, and by the mid-1980s, he held senior command positions at the heart of Myanmar's military leadership.
Key Achievements
- Served as chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and head of state of Myanmar from 1992 to 2011
- Oversaw the drafting and adoption of the 2008 Constitution, which established the framework for Myanmar's transition to a nominally civilian government
- Directed the construction of Naypyidaw, a purpose-built capital city that became the official seat of Myanmar's government in 2006
- Managed the transfer of power to Thein Sein in 2011, facilitating Myanmar's first quasi-civilian government in decades
- Supervised the construction of the Uppatasanti Pagoda in Naypyidaw, one of the largest Buddhist monuments built in Myanmar in the modern era
Did You Know?
- 01.Than Shwe ordered the construction of Naypyidaw, an entirely new capital city built from scratch in a remote central location, which was kept so secret that most diplomats and foreign governments had no advance notice before it was announced in 2005.
- 02.He attended the M.V. Frunze Military Academy in the Soviet Union, an institution that trained officers from dozens of countries during the Cold War and was considered among the most prestigious military schools in the Eastern Bloc.
- 03.The Uppatasanti Pagoda, constructed under his patronage in Naypyidaw, is nearly identical in dimensions to the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, standing approximately 99 meters tall.
- 04.Than Shwe served simultaneously as head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces for over a decade, concentrating an extraordinary degree of power in a single individual.
- 05.His government moved the official capital from Yangon to Naypyidaw on 6 November 2005, a date reportedly chosen based on astrological advice, consistent with a long tradition of numerology and astrology influencing decisions in Burmese political culture.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Order of Burma | — | — |