General Ne Win

Longest on-going civil war

The Burmese civil war is the longest-running armed conflict in the world and has continued, in one form or another, from independence to the present day. In a way Burma is a place where the Second World War never really stopped. Ever since the first Japanese bombers hummed overhead and dropped their payloads over downtown Rangoon, the country has not known peace. For a brief period, between August 1945 and independence in January 1948, there were no open hostilities. And...

U Ohn Khin and Bo Ne Win at the Rangoon Turf Club 1949

The Rangoon Turf Club March 1949: "Bama-khit" publisher U Ohn Khin and the new Army Chief of Staff Bo Ne Win enjoying a day at the races. Photo credit: Life Magazine

General Ne Win in UK 1949

In July 1949, General Ne Win at the UK Foreign Office together with U Hla Maung (then Burmese Ambassador to Thailand) Bo Setkya, and Burmese Ambassador to the UK ("San Shay") U Ohn (who translated for General Ne Win). They were there to meet British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin as part of a week-long visit. General Ne Win then went on to Washington. In 1949, General Ne Win was Deputy Prime Minister as well Commander-in-Chief of the Burma Armed Forces....

HRH Prince Philip's Visit to Rangoon in 1959

On the Chinese new year 1959, HRH Prince Philip visited Rangoon. This was during General Ne Win's "Caretaker Government". Both General Ne Win and President Mahn Win Maung are in the clip. In the middle of the clip (1.02 - 1:45) you will see the beautiful old Government House (President's House). The demolition of this historic building c.1980 was an terrible act of vandalism, on par with the demolition of the Kengtung Saopha's haw a little more than a decade...

Soviet Premier's Burma Trip

Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev visited Burma as part of a trip around Asia. The country was then under the 'Caretaker' government of General Ne Win. Khrushchev wrote in his memoir that he was very impressed with the welcome he received upon arrival. Premier Khruschev met with then former Prime Minister U Nu, as well as General Ne Win. President Mahn Win Maung hosted a garden party at Government House and Khrushchev attended as the guest of honour. During the visits,...

Landmark Visit to Burma of David Ben-Gurion, Founder and First Prime Minister of Israel

On 5 December 1961, the founder and first Prime Minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion made a landmark visit to Burma. Few remember that Burma in the 1950s and early 60s had particularly close relations, including military relations, with Israel. Both countries had achieved independence from the British Empire at the same time, both found themselves immediately at war, and both were governed (initially) by elected socialist governments. Burma was the first country in Asia to recognize the Jewish state (in...

The Day Democracy Died in Burma

On 2 March 1962 beginning at 2 am units of the Burma Army seized control of the Secretariat, the Windermere Estate, the guest house at Halpin Road, and other important government sites. President Mahn Win Maung, Prime Minister U Nu, all members of the cabinet and many other senior political figures including leading Shan sawbwas were arrested over the day. Sao Myee Myee, the 17-year-old son of the first President Sao Shwe Thaik was killed before dawn during the takeover...