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 World War Two 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 since...

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

This photograph, taken in July 1949, shows General Ne Win (far left) at the Foreign Office in London together with U Hla Maung (then Burmese Ambassador to Thailand), Bo Setkya, and Burmese Ambassador to the UK, U Ohn ("San Shay"), 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...

HRH Prince Philip's Visit to Rangoon in 1959

This video documents the visit of Britain's Prince Philip to Rangoon over Chinese New Year in 1959. The visit took place under General Ne Win's "Caretaker Government” and Prince Philip is seen being warmly welcomed by General Ne Win upon landing at the airport. The footage of the prince attending a garden party at Government House (beginning at 1:07) offers a glimpse of the now demolished President’s House, a grand old building that was built in 1895 and that became...

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. The New York Times, however, reported that Khrushchev was "welcomed cordially but with no great show of enthusiasm on his arrival in Rangoon". President Mahn Win Maung hosted a garden party at Government House and Khrushchev attended as the...

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. Indeed, Burma was the first country in Asia to recognize the...

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 saophas were arrested over the course of the day. Sao Myee Myee, the 17-year-old son of the first President Sao Shwe Thaik was killed before dawn...