Saw Maung
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Saw Maung | |
|---|---|
စောမောင် | |
 | |
| Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council | |
| In office 18 September 1988 – 23 April 1992 | |
| Deputy | Than Shwe |
| Preceded by | Maung Maung (as President) |
| Succeeded by | Than Shwe |
| Prime Minister of Burma | |
| In office 21 September 1988 – 23 April 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Tun Tin |
| Succeeded by | Than Shwe |
| Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Myanmar | |
| In office 4 November 1985 – 23 April 1992 | |
| Deputy | Than Shwe |
| Preceded by | Kyaw Htin |
| Succeeded by | Than Shwe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 December 1928 |
| Died | 24 July 1997 (aged 68) |
| Party | BSPP (until 1988) SLORC |
| Spouse | Aye Yee |
| Children | Thiha Saw Kay Thi Saw Thura Saw |
| Awards | Alinkar Kyawswar |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Myanmar |
| Branch/service |  Myanmar Army |
| Years of service | 1945–1992 |
| Rank |  Senior General |
Saw Maung (Burmese: စောမောင်; pronounced [sɔ́ màʊɰ̃]; 5 December 1928 – 24 July 1997) was a Burmese military leader and statesman who served as Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and Prime Minister of Burma from 1988 until 1992, when he was deposed by rival generals who disapproved Saw Maung decisions that were in favor of Aung San Suu Kyi. Besides this, he was the 8th Commander-in-Chief of the Tatmadaw. He was the first Burmese general to get the rank of Senior General, which was created for him in 1990.
He was born on 5 December 1928 in Mandalay, British Burma. Saw Maung joined the army in 1945, three years before the country gained independence from Britain, and received a commission in 1952. From 1974 to 1976, he fought against communist insurgents and ethnic rebels along the border with Thailand. In 1976, he became a brigadier general, and in 1981 an adjutant-general. He became armed forces commander in 1983.
Saw Maung was army chief of staff and defence minister in the brief government of Sein Lwin and became chairman of the junta when the army staged its coup in 1988 after the 8888 Uprising. He was an effective ruler of the country as head of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). He also held the posts of prime minister and minister of foreign affairs. As a high-ranking member of the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP), he provided continuity of leadership during a succession of short-lived predecessors that followed the toppling of Ne Win earlier in 1988.
