Chairman, State Peace and Development Council THAN Shwe of Burma
Than Shwe had gone into hiding, or even fled the storm-batteredcountry.
The 75-year-old Than Shwe has presided with an iron fist over a military regime that has been more successful at nurturing its power than its people, purging rivals and putting downuprisings.
Despite his absolute power, Than Shwe is so reclusive that most Burmese people have never even heard his voice.
Nonetheless, Shwe was known as a merciless fighter; his no-holds-barred style brought a promotion to the rank of captain in 1960.
In 1983, Shwe took military command of the Southwest Region/Irrawaddy Delta near Rangoon.
Ascent to Power: In 1985, Shwe was promoted to brigadier-general, and given the twin posts of Vice Chief of Army Staff and Deputy Minister of Defense.
Policies as Supreme Leader: Initially, Than Shwe was seen as a more moderate-style military dictator than some of his predecessors.
Than Shwe is the brutal, repressive leader of the military junta that rules the Burmese people behind the guise of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC.
There is no doubt that Than Shwe was involved in these events, just as there is no doubt that he has been responsible for the mistreatment of political prisoners, the enslavement of Burmese men and the mass rape of Burmese women, especially among the ethnic minority groups so desperately fighting for independence.
Than Shwe is deeply paranoid and reclusive as so many dictators are or learn to be.
Than Shwe received belated but pointed publicity last year when video footage of his daughter Thandars wedding showed the bride covered in gems and the guests enjoying five star champagne and cigar lifestyle almost completely disconnected from the impoverished lives of the Burmese people as a whole.
Actually, I am a dog-lover myself, but Than Shwe is a separate entity in and of himself that defies adequate definition.
Dogs, apes, and hogs have more nobility in their feces than Than Shwe has in his entire body.
Than Shwe is part of WikiProject Myanmar (Burma), a project to improve all Burma related articles on Wikipedia.
Than Shwe was born in Kyaukse, Mandalay Division.
It is widely accepted that Than Shwe has suffered from “stress” according to the Chinese authorites who visited him recently.
One source told The Irrawaddy that Than Shwe had been depressed by a report by the head of the United Nations Development Programme in Burma, Charles Petrie, who was expelled from Burma recently.
Than Shwe was born in Minzu village, near Kyaukse, Mandalay Division.
The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) was created after the military organised another coup in response to the democracy uprising of 1988, and Than Shwe was appointed as one of 21 members of the cabinet headed by General Saw Maung.
Initially, Than Shwe was seen as a more moderate-style military leader than some of his predecessors.
Than Shwe has continued the suppression of the free press in Burma, and has overseen the detention of journalists who oppose his regime.
For many years, Than Shwe was seen as something of a figurehead as head of state, with the power over policy being held by his ministers.
Than Shwe has been linked to the toppling and arrest of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt in 2004, which has significantly increased his own power.
While Saddams practices of killing and torture were more visible and shocking to the international community, Than Shwe has used marginally more civilized methods when the eyes of the international community are upon him.
In addition to incarcerating Khin Nyunt, Than Shwe had many of Khin Nyunts subordinates physically tortured, some of whom were tortured to death.
Writing in an article on the front page of the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper, Senior General Than Shwe said it was every citizen's national duty to support the political process.
Early life and career Than Shwe was born in Minzu village, near KyaukseKyaukse Kyaukse is a small town in Mandalay Division, Myanmar, and is 30 miles from Mandalay, the second capital of Myanmar.
and Than Shwe was appointed as one of 21 members of the Cabinet of General Saw MaungSaw Maung Saw Maung was a political figure in Myanmar.
Than Shwe has been linked to the toppling and arrest of Prime Minister Khin NyuntKhin Nyunt General Khin Nyunt is an officer and politician in Myanmar.
Than Shwe had checked out of Singapore's General Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment, and returned to Burma two weeks later.
arrest and imprisoned or purged hundreds of his followers.
lower than his, just as Ne Win did.
Than Shwe is considering withdrawing Myanmar from the regional grouping.
5) At present, Senior General Than Shwe is the latest King, the Military dictator of Myanmar.
Than Shwe was the only speaker at a.
Than Shwe WatchNovember 28, 2008At the 15th annual meeting of the military-supported Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) in Naypyidaw, Than Shwe says that the seven-step road map is the only way to achieve a smooth transition to democracy.
October 27, 2008Snr-Gen Than Shwe meets with visiting Vice Chief-of-Staff of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army, Gen Zhang Li, in Naypyidaw.
August 6, 2008Snr-Gen Than Shwe meets Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in Naypyidaw.
May 23, 2008Snr-Gen Than Shwe meets UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Naypyidaw and reportedly discusses with him a UN request for access by foreign aid workers to areas devastated by Cyclone Nargis.
May 18, 2008 Snr-Gen Than Shwe is shown by state-run media for the first time visiting one of the areas hit by Cyclone Nargis.
Last weeks reshuffle indicated that Than Shwe is still in control and has tightened his grip on power.
Shwe is an unassuming dictator in some senses; his countrymen know little about him and he is not an obviously visible presence throughout the country.
Wikipedia suggest that Than Shwe has fled to Thailand on 25th September.
Senior General Than Shwe is guilty of mass murder, again in Burma.
Than Shwe is obsessed with clinging to power and continuing the legacy of military rule in the country.
After killing Buddhist monks on the streets, Than Shwe is now responsible for the death of millions of people and those dying everyday.
Than Shwe is scheduled to head for Ngwe Saung beach in Irrawaddy division on holiday with his family, the source said.
Than Shwe knows too well that it was impossible to build cyclone shelters and roads to block another wave surge, the ministers have built a pile of mud alongside the coast, which looks like a high road from the helicopter.
Than Shwe is a Burmese army general who has been the ruler of Burma (Myanmar) since 1992.
Master of Psychological Warfare!Than Shwe is a Burmese army general who has been the ruler of Burma (Myanmar) since 1992.
Initially Shwe was seen as a more liberal leader, and he released political prisoners.
a burmease girl yangon Posted at 5:55am on Sunday, June 8th, 2008Not only THAN SHWE but also his general are so greedy and dirty lying BASTARD.
Than Shwe has remained publicly silent throughout the crisis in his country, and has not responded to calls for compromise with protesters.
Than Shwe has shown no willingness to step down as head of the ruling junta, compromise with protesters, or listen to international calls for reform in Myanmar, also known as Burma.
Sullen, unresponsive and boring he may be, but Than Shwe is Burmaâs Number One, leader of one of the worldâs most brutal regimes.
Than Shwe had by now risen through the ranks of the military regime and its âBurma Socialist Programme Party.
By the time Ne Winâs number came up in 1988, Than Shwe was one of three officers in line to replace him.
Than Shwe has on occasion looked âmoderateâ, allowing the Red Cross and Amnesty International to visit the country and even meeting Aung San Suu Kyi.
Biopic: Shwe was born on February 2, 1933 (so he's 74), and became head of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (read: head of the whole deal) in 1992.
Shwe remained in charge of the renamed State Peace and Development Council.
Pursuits: Shwe has been taking lessons in French cooking.
Than Shwe is a cold-hearted brute.
Than Shwe is rarely seen in public but made a trip abroad last month for medical treatment.
5 trillion cubic feet of Burmese gas, and Shwe has agreed to build a pipeline directly into China.
When the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC?later to be renamed the State Peace and Development Council) seized power after the failed democratic uprising of 1988 (in which thousands of pro-democracy activists were killed), Shwe was appointed a member.
After the general election of 1990, which allowed political parties to compete and in which the National League for Democracy (NLD?the party led by future Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi) won with 80% of the vote, Shwe was essential in convincing the SLORC not to cede the elections to the NLD.
Shwe has made it a habit to persecute ethnic minorities and drive large numbers of Burmese citizens into poverty, all while keeping the Burmese free press in a state of suspended animation.
I vow to do everything in my power to make the great acts being carried out in this great country known to all the world on this day and every day until Christmas Day," Than Shwe said in a speech broadcast on the state-run Myanmar News Network.
Although Than Shwe is considered a sadistic and merciless tyrant within the borders of Myanmaralso known as Burmahis human-rights abuses have long been ignored in the international media.
Sources within the Burmese leader's inner circle said he first became aware of the "Man Of The Year" honor when Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini was selected in 1979, when Than Shwe was still an army colonel.
Since he came to power in 1992, Than Shwe has steadily intensified his tyranny as it became evident with each passing year that word of his crimes was not reaching the editorial board of Time.
Advisers said Than Shwe is hoping Time editors will take into account the massive economic and social impact that millions of Burmese refugees will have on neighboring countries when they determine the Man Of The Year.
Still, media industry observers said that Than Shwe remained an unlikely choice.
Yangon - Amid signs that Myanmar's junta chief Senior General Than Shwe has tightened his grip over the military, at least five lieutenant generals have been retired from the regime for health reasons, military sources revealed on Monday.