Tan Shve Military dictator of Burma since September 23, 1992 Date of Birth: 02.02.1933 Country: Myanmar

Biography of Than Shwe

Than Shwe is a military dictator who has been ruling Burma since September 23, 1992. He is the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), formerly known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Than Shwe was born into a poor family and worked at the post office.

In 1953, he joined the officer training school to fight against rebels and separatists, graduating in 1954. He spent many years working in the psychology department of the military operations against the Karen people. After the 1962 coup led by General Ne Win, his career rapidly advanced. He became a brigadier general in 1985 and a major general in 1986. In 1988, he joined the Executive Committee of the Burmese Socialist Program Party (BSPP) led by General Ne Win.

On September 21, 1988, Than Shwe became one of the 21 members of the SLORC, which was led by General Saw Maung. He served as Saw Maung's deputy until Saw Maung resigned due to health reasons on April 23, 1992. Than Shwe then assumed the position of the Chairman of the SLORC and also became the Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Initially, Than Shwe pursued a relatively liberal policy compared to his predecessors. He released political prisoners and eased restrictions on opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who had been under house arrest since July 1989. In 1993, in response to the 1990 elections that his party lost, he convened a National Assembly to draft a new constitution. He loosened state control over the economy and successfully gained Myanmar's admission to the ASEAN in 1997. During this time, he removed numerous ministers for corruption. He allowed international organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and Amnesty International to visit Myanmar. However, he continued to persecute ethnic minorities, particularly the Karen and Shan people. He initiated a campaign against the Rohingya Muslim population, leading to the displacement of 250,000 people to Bangladesh. The new constitution was never adopted because the National Assembly was dissolved in 1995 and only reconvened for a few weeks in 2004-2005. He failed to establish a dialogue with the opposition and suppressed active journalists. In May 2003, he re-arrested Aung San Suu Kyi and put her under house arrest once again. Corruption in the country increased during his rule.

Than Shwe is described as uneducated, closed-minded, sensitive, and prone to anger. He reportedly spends more time playing golf or using the computer than attending to state affairs. He stepped down as Prime Minister on August 25, 2003, but still holds multiple key positions in the government.

Currently, there is a power struggle within the Myanmar government between Than Shwe's faction and the deputy chairman of the junta, General Maung Aye. In recent years, Than Shwe's rule has taken on more monarchical characteristics, and he is referred to as a king within the army and the country. His grandchildren boast of having "royal blood" running through their veins. On Buddhist New Year, his family receives enormous gifts. In 2004, the value of the gifts amounted to 700 million euros.

His wife, Daw Kyaing Kyaing, actively interferes in politics, particularly in the appointment of high-ranking officials. In February 2008, the American magazine "Parade" (a supplement to The Washington Post) published a list of the most brutal dictators of the modern era, which included North Korea's Kim Jong-il, Sudan's Omar al-Bashir, Myanmar's General Than Shwe, and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah.