Than Shwe (1933– )

Myanmar (Burmese) soldier, chair of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), prime minister and minister of defence 1992– . He was one of a group of generals that seized power in 1988 and called itself the State Law and Order Council (SLORC). Than Shwe was deputy commander-in-chief of the armed forces and vice chair of the SLORC 1988–92. In late 1997 SLORC was replaced by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Following his appointment to the chair of the SPDC, Shwe announced that some political prisoners would be released, but this process proved slow. Shwe ended martial law in September 1992, but the military retained a tight control over political activities, becoming the dominant force in the Myanmar government. Accusations of human-rights abuses, including subjecting citizens to forced labour, continued to be levelled at the government, and Western sanctions remain in force. The military also detained thousands of opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) members and kept Aung San Suu Kyi, the movement's leader, under house arrest 1989–95, and continues to restrict her freedom.

Than Shwe began his military career at an early age, becoming a lieutenant platoon commander in 1953. He then held a series of posts in the psychological warfare department, and was commander of the southwest region 1980–85, when he was promoted to brigadier general and vice chief of staff. By 1987 he was a full general and the following year embarked on his political career. By 1991, he held the posts of deputy commander in chief of the armed forces and vice chairman of SLORC, and was perfectly poised to accede to the top post.