Than Shwe
| Than Shwe | |
|---|---|
| သန်းရွှေ | |
 |
|
| Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council | |
|
In office 23 April 1992 – 30 March 2011 |
|
| Deputy | Maung Aye |
| Preceded by | Saw Maung |
| Succeeded by | Thein Sein as President |
| Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Myanmar | |
|
In office 23 April 1992 – 30 March 2011 |
|
| Deputy | Maung Aye |
| Preceded by | Saw Maung |
| Succeeded by | Min Aung Hlaing |
| 8th Prime Minister of Burma | |
|
In office 23 April 1992 – 25 August 2003 |
|
| Preceded by | Saw Maung |
| Succeeded by | Khin Nyunt |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
2 February 1933 or 3 May 1935 Kyaukse, Upper Burma, British India (now in Myanmar) |
| Nationality | Burmese |
| Spouse(s) | Kyaing Kyaing |
| Children | 8 |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | Myanmar Army |
| Years of service | 1953 - 2011 |
| Rank |
 Senior General |
Senior General Than Shwe (Burmese: သန်းရွှေ; pronounced: [θáɴ ʃwè]; born 2 February 1933) is a Burmese strongman politician who was the head of state of Burma from 1992 to 2011 as Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). During this period, he held key positions of power including Prime Minister of Burma, Commander-in-chief of Myanmar Defense Services and head of the Union Solidarity and Development Association. In March 2011 he officially stepped down as head of state in favour of his hand-picked successor, Thein Sein, and as head of the Armed Forces, being replaced by general Min Aung Hlaing.
Than Shwe was born in Minzu village, near Kyaukse, British Burma in 1933 or 1935. In 1949, Than Shwe attended and finished Government High School in Kyaukse. He took up employment at the Meikhtila Post Office as a postal clerk. Later he enlisted in the Burmese Army and was in the ninth intake of the Army Officer Training School.
After graduating from the Officer Training School, Second Lieutenant Than Shwe was posted to No. 1 Infantry Battalion as a squad leader on 11 July 1953. He was promoted to platoon commander with the rank of lieutenant on 11 July 1955 and to company commander with the rank of captain on 21 February 1957 in the same battalion. He was involved in military operation carried out by No. 1 Infantry Battalion in Karen State, Southern Shan State and Eastern Thanlwin area.
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