President Mahn Win Maung

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...

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...