Former Myanmar President U Ne Win Dies

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 05, 2002

Former Myanmar President U Ne Win Dies

Former Myanmar President U Ne Win died in Yangon Thursday morning at the age of 92, said sources close to his bereaved family.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Former Myanmar President U Ne Win died in Yangon Thursday morning at the age of 92, said sources close to his bereaved family.

Born in Pyay township, the country's Bago division, on May 14, 1911, Ne Win died in house arrest following the arrest of his son-in-law and three grandsons for a coup attempt.

No further details of his death were available and so far no announcement has been made by the government about his death.

Ne Win, a co-founder of the Myanmar Armed Forces and a key member of the "Thirty Comrades". He accompanied General Aung San, father of the armed forces and national independence fighter, in fight for the country's independence from the British colonialists.

After independence in 1948, he held the premiership of the care-taker government in September 1958. On March 2, 1962, Ne Win tookover the power of state and formed the Revolutionary Council, the then ruling body of the country, taking up the post as chairman ofthe council.

In July 1962, he organized the Burma Socialist Program Party (BSPP), the single lawful political party in the country then, and became the party chairman.

He was elected as President in 1974 under the then state constitution and resigned from the post in November 1981. Again onJuly 25, 1988, he resigned from the chairmanship of the BSPP amidst political crisis and since then he had retired from politics.

Before his demise, Ne Win had been under house arrest for beingsuspected of getting involved in the failed coup attempt made by his son-in-law and the three grandsons. The four were all sentenced in September to death by the court after trial.

Questions?Comments? Click here

News Analysis: Thai-Myanmar Relations Are at Turning Point

153 Anti-govt Members Surrender in Myanmar

Another Leap Forward for China's Development ( 4 Messages)

Countdown Begins for Damming Yangtze River ( 2 Messages)

Shanghai Wins World Expo 2010 Bid ( 8 Messages)

Beijing Has 1st On-campus Confucius Research Institute ( 15 Messages)

China, Russia Issue Joint Statement ( 2 Messages)