The Union Party ( Burmese : ပြည်ထောင်စုပါတီ , romanized : Pyidaungsu Pati ) was the ruling political party in Burma in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Formed by a split in the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League , it was initially known as the Clean Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League ( Clean AFPFL ) or Nu-Tin faction .
29-737: The party was formed in June 1958 when the AFPFL split in two following internal disputes that had intensified since its January congress; One group was led by Prime Minister U Nu , which he named the "Clean AFPFL"; the other was led by Kyaw Nyein and Ba Swe and became known as the Stable AFPFL . The Clean faction was occasionally referred to as the Nu-Tin faction , referring to its other leader Thakin Tin , and contained several groups from different political streams, including
58-599: A 44-year prison sentence. Released from house arrest on 13 January 2012, he entered a new phase, establishing a presence in Yangon with a coffee shop, art gallery, and souvenir shop. In an interview in April 2012, Khin Nyunt claimed that he personally intervened to save Aung San Suu Kyi 's life during the Depayin massacre , by ordering his men to take her to a safe location. Khin Nyunt
87-401: A meaningful education. On 18 October 2004, in a one-sentence announcement signed by SPDC Chairman Than Shwe , Khin Nyunt was "permitted to retire on health grounds". However, he was immediately arrested and placed under protective custody. Allegations of Khin Nyunt's corruption were officially made several days later. His dismissal and arrest were the result of a power struggle in which
116-412: A path that would intertwine with intelligence operations and key political roles. His military career led him to the position of Chief of Intelligence , where he played a crucial role in the country's internal security. His political journey reached its pinnacle when he assumed the office of Prime Minister of Myanmar on 25 August 2003, succeeding Senior General Than Shwe . However, his tenure
145-490: A permanent military participation in the government. The so-called 'systematic and step-by-step implementation of the road-map to democracy ' also contained no time-line. The first 'step' of the road map was the recalling of the suspended National Convention which first met in January 1993. The National Convention ( NC ) was supposed to 'lay down' the basic principles for a new Constitution. The NC met sporadically until
174-466: A power struggle between the then– head of state , Senior General Than Shwe , chairman of the State Peace and Development Council , and his prime minister, General Khin Nyunt , led to his dismissal and arrest. The position was abolished on 30 March 2011, according to the current Constitution (adopted in 2008 ). It provided that the president is both the head of state and head of government. But after
203-443: A visiting South Korean delegation. Twenty-one people, including three South Korean cabinet ministers, died during the attack, which occurred on 9 October 1983 and was perpetrated by terrorists sent from North Korea . Khin Nyunt was then appointed Chief of Intelligence . From the mid-1980s to the late 1990s Khin Nyunt was considered to be a protégé of General Ne Win , who supposedly retired from politics in 23 July 1988 but who
232-520: Is a retired Burmese army general widely recognized for his influential role in shaping Myanmar's political dynamics. Serving as the Chief of Intelligence and Prime Minister of Myanmar from 25 August 2003 to 18 October 2004, he played a crucial part in the nation's history. During his tenure, Khin Nyunt oversaw significant developments in Myanmar's intelligence and apparatus and government policies. He
261-530: Is the head of government of Myanmar . The post was re-established in 2021 by the State Administration Council (SAC), the country's ruling military junta , to lead its nominally-civilian provisional government . The provisional government is subject to the decision-making of the SAC; additionally, there is significant overlap in the membership of both bodies. There is no provision for a prime minister in
290-504: Is thought to have continued to be an influential figure behind the scenes until about the late 1990s. The 1988 uprising that occurred from March to September 1988 was quelled by the military when the State Law and Order Restoration Council ( SLORC ) was formed on 18 September 1988. The State Law and Order Restoration Council ( SLORC ) was renamed as the State Peace and Development Council ( SPDC ) in 15 November 1997, and Khin Nyunt
319-614: The 2008 Constitution of Myanmar , with the president being the constitutional head of government. The current prime minister is Min Aung Hlaing , who is also the leader of the junta and the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services . The post had been used by previous military governments, as recently as 2011. The position of prime minister was created in 1948, with the adoption of the Burmese Declaration of Independence from
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#1732855766988348-581: The 2015 general election , as Aung San Suu Kyi was constitutionally barred from becoming President , an office named State Counsellor , functionally identical to that of prime minister, was established for her on 6 April 2016. On 1 August 2021, State Administration Council formed the caretaker government and chairman of SAC became prime minister. Khin Nyunt Khin Nyunt ( Burmese : ခင်ညွန့် ; MLCTS : hkang nywan ; pronounced [kʰɪ̀ɰ̃ ɲʊ̰ɰ̃] ; born 23 October 1939)
377-458: The United Kingdom . Since then, eleven people have held the office (with two of them doing so on multiple occasions). Due to the country's long period of military rule, it has not been uncommon for the prime minister to be a serving (or recently retired) military officer . The actual power of the prime minister has considerably varied over time, differing based on who holds the office. In 2004,
406-713: The left-wing Pongyi Kyaung faction of the Burma Socialist Party and conservative commercial interest groups. Although the Stable faction was supported by the larger group of AFPFL members in the Chamber of Deputies , U Nu was able to continue as Prime Minister due to support from the National United Front and some of the independent MPs. However, the dispute between the two factions continued to worsen and in September 1958
435-607: The Army brokered a compromise, taking power with a government headed by Ne Win until elections were held eighteen months later. In the 1960 elections campaign the Clean AFPFL promised increased autonomy for the Mon and Rakhine minorities, and that Buddhism would become the state religion , gaining it support from the Buddhist clergy. It received 57% of the vote, winning 158 of the 250 seats in
464-619: The Chamber of Deputies and 53 of the 125 seats in the Chamber of Nationalities , allowing U Nu to return as Prime Minister. Following the elections, it adopted the Union Party name. In 1962 U Nu's government was overthrown by a military coup led by Ne Win. In 1964, Ne Win's Burma Socialist Programme Party became the sole legal political party . Prime Minister of Burma The prime minister of Myanmar ( Burmese : မြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော်ဝန်ကြီးချုပ် ; MLCTS : mranmounghaṅ wan kri khuup. )
493-569: The approval of a new constitution in 2008 by what many observers considered the rigged 2008 constitutional referendum . After Khin Nyunt's appointment as Prime Minister of Myanmar , his role in the government gave rise to some hope and speculation that there might be some 'liberalization', as Khin Nyunt was considered a moderate pragmatist who saw the need of a dialogue with the democratic opposition. The SPDC Chairman Senior General Than Shwe and his deputy, Vice-Senior General Maung Aye , were seen as hardliners who opposed any relaxation of
522-455: The country and maintained networks of spies in almost every neighbourhood. Their agents were placed in customs, immigration and police departments, and officers military intelligence even monitored other senior military officials, including top generals. Khin Nyunt was instrumental in closing the universities, then reopening them after they had been relocated to remote, ill-equipped campuses where students could no longer organise protests or get
551-568: The current Commander-in-Chief of the Tatmadaw , visited Khin Nyunt's home. It has been reported that the former general is facing health challenges, specifically from Alzheimer's disease . Khin Nyunt is married to Khin Win Shwe, a medical doctor, and has two sons, Lieutenant Colonel Zaw Naing Oo and Dr. Ye Naing Wynn, a doctor and entrepreneur who owns Aroma Gourmet Concepts Ltd, a pioneer of coffee culture in Myanmar since 1998 and Bagan Cybertech, one of
580-762: The junta's strongman, Than Shwe , successfully managed to clip the power of the "intelligence faction" of the Myanmar Armed Forces which Khin Nyunt led. Most of the Generals and military officers in the SPDC , like Senior General Than Shwe , did not want to negotiate with Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD). On 5 July 2005, Khin Nyunt was tried by a Special Tribunal inside Insein Prison near Rangoon on various corruption charges. On 21 July 2005, he
609-412: The military's iron grip of the country. From 1988 until his purge in 2004, Khin Nyunt oversaw the arrest of around 10,000 people. Many were subjected to torture and farcical trials that resulted in decades-long prison sentences. Dozens of his military intelligence units harassed, intimidated and detained opposition activists. His military intelligence units infiltrated almost every organization in
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#1732855766988638-615: The public and there have been reports that Khin Nyunt and his wife have been able to travel outside their home on occasion, since March 2008. In December 2010, another 16-minute video of Khin Nyunt meeting with the Chief of Police Khin Yi and other senior police officers was circulated on YouTube . Khin Nyunt's brother-in-law was Than Nyein , a long-term political prisoner under military regime and founder of National Democratic Force Party, who died of lung cancer in Yangon on 21 May 2014. Khin Nyunt
667-459: Was appointed as its first secretary (Secretary −1), a post which he held until his appointment as prime minister in 25 August 2003. Shortly after Khin Nyunt was appointed as prime minister , he announced a seven-point roadmap to democracy on 30 August 2003; this roadmap was heavily criticized by the Burmese opposition as well as by many foreign governments especially Western ones as it envisaged
696-627: Was born on 23 October 1939, in Kyauktan Township , near Rangoon (now Yangon). He is of Burmese Chinese descent, with parents who were Hakkas from Meixian , Meizhou , Guangdong , China . Khin Nyunt graduated from the 25th batch of the Officers Training School, Bahtoo in 1960, after dropping out of Yankin College in the late 1950s. After his military career, he was ordered back to Rangoon in 1984 after an attack on
725-556: Was instrumental in implementing reforms aimed at modernizing intelligence operations and promoting national security interests. However his leadership faced challenges, and he was eventually removed from power in 2004 amid political reshuffles within the ruling military junta . Despite his removal from office, Khin Nyunt's legacy continued to be debated, with some viewing him as a reformist figure and others critiquing his approach to governance. Born on 23 October 1939 in Kyauktan Township , near Rangoon (now Yangon), His early life
754-406: Was marked by a unique cultural heritage. Hailing from a family of Burmese Chinese descent, his parents were Hakkas from Meixian , Meizhou , Guangdong , China . Khin Nyunt played a significant role in Myanmar's political landscape. Khin Nyunt graduated from the 25th batch of the Officers Training School, Bahtoo , in 1960, after he dropped out of Yankin College in the 1950s, forging
783-563: Was released from house arrest on 13 January 2012 by the order of President Thein Sein . After his release from house arrest, Khin Nyunt resettled in a villa in Yangon. There, he established a coffee shop, art gallery, and a souvenir shop featuring items like wood carvings for tourists. On 2 March 2015, Khin Nyunt published a 657-page autobiography, providing insights into various aspects of his life. On 5 December 2021, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing ,
812-406: Was sentenced to 44 years in prison, though it is believed that he is ostensibly serving his sentence under house arrest instead of in prison. His sons were also sentenced to 51 and 68 years respectively. It is unclear whether his wife was also indicted. In July 2009, a video of Khin Nyunt at the home of former Burmese minister Brigadier-General Tint Swe, taken on 7 July 2009, was leaked to
841-503: Was short-lived, lasting until 18 October 2004. As Prime Minister , Khin Nyunt faced challenges and controversies, including the proposal of a seven-point roadmap to democracy , criticized for its perceived lack of clarity and military involvement. His leadership oversaw the recalling of the suspended National Convention, influencing Myanmar's political trajectory. Dismissed from power on 18 October 2004 amid internal military struggles, Khin Nyunt faced corruption charges and received
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