Khin Nyunt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Khin Nyunt
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ခင်ညွန့်
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Khin Nyunt in 2004
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| Prime Minister of Myanmar | |
| In office 25 August 2003 – 18 October 2004 |
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| Leader | Than Shwe |
| Preceded by | Than Shwe |
| Succeeded by | Soe Win |
| Secretary 1 of the State Peace and Development Council | |
| In office 15 November 1997 – 25 August 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Soe Win |
| Secretary 1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council | |
| In office 18 September 1988 – 15 November 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Director of Defence Service Intelligence | |
| In office 1984 – 18 October 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Kyaw Win |
| Succeeded by | Myint Swe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 October 1939 Kyauktan Township, British Burma (present-day Myanmar) |
| Citizenship | Burmese |
| Spouse | Khin Win Shwe |
| Children | Lt.-Col. Zaw Naing Oo, Dr. Ye Naing Win |
| Alma mater | Officers Training School, Bahtoo |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Myanmar |
| Branch/service |  Myanmar Army |
| Years of service | 1960–2004 |
| Rank |  General |
Khin Nyunt (Burmese: ခင်ညွန့်; MLCTS: hkang nywan; pronounced [kʰɪ̀ɰ̃ ɲʊ̰ɰ̃]; born 23 October 1939) is a retired army general from Myanmar. He was a very important figure in Myanmar's government for many years. He served as the Chief of Intelligence and later as the Prime Minister of Myanmar from 2003 to 2004.
During his time, Khin Nyunt worked on making changes to the country's security and government plans. He tried to modernize how intelligence worked and keep the nation safe. However, his time as a leader faced challenges. He was later removed from his position in 2004 due to changes within the ruling military group. Even after leaving office, people still discuss his impact on Myanmar's history. Some see him as someone who wanted to bring reforms, while others have different views on his leadership.
Contents
Khin Nyunt: A Leader in Myanmar
Early Life and School Days
Khin Nyunt was born on 23 October 1939. His birthplace was Kyauktan Township, which is near Rangoon (now called Yangon). His family had a special background. His parents were from a group called the Hakkas, who came from Meixian in China.
Khin Nyunt went to the Officers Training School, Bahtoo. He graduated from there in 1960. Before that, he had studied at Yankin College in the 1950s but left early. This training helped him start his career in the military.
Journey into Politics
After his military service, Khin Nyunt was called back to Rangoon in 1984. This happened after a serious attack on a visiting group from South Korea. The attack took place on 9 October 1983. Twenty-one people died, including three South Korean government officials. These attacks were carried out by people sent from North Korea.
After this event, Khin Nyunt was made the Chief of Intelligence. From the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, many believed he was a close follower of General Ne Win. General Ne Win had officially retired from politics in 1988. However, he was still thought to be a powerful figure behind the scenes.
In 1988, there was a big public uprising in Myanmar, known as the 8888 Uprising. The military stopped this uprising. On 18 September 1988, a new military group was formed. It was first called the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Khin Nyunt became its first secretary. This group was later renamed the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in 1997. Khin Nyunt kept his role as secretary until he became Prime Minister in 2003.
Becoming Prime Minister
Khin Nyunt became the Prime Minister of Myanmar on 25 August 2003. He took over from Senior General Than Shwe. Shortly after becoming Prime Minister, Khin Nyunt announced a plan for the country. This plan was called a "seven-point roadmap to democracy." He announced it on 30 August 2003.
However, many people in Myanmar and other countries did not like this roadmap. They felt it did not clearly explain how the country would become a democracy. They also worried that the military would still have too much power. The plan also did not say when these changes would happen.
The first step of this roadmap was to bring back the National Convention. This group had first met in 1993. Its job was to create basic rules for a new Constitution. The National Convention met on and off for several years. A new constitution was finally approved in 2008.
Important Changes and Challenges
When Khin Nyunt became Prime Minister, some people hoped for positive changes. They thought he might be more open to talking with groups that wanted democracy. This was because Khin Nyunt was seen as a moderate leader. However, other powerful military leaders, like Senior General Than Shwe, were seen as strict. They did not want to loosen the military's control over the country.
Life After Leadership
On 18 October 2004, Khin Nyunt was removed from his position. The official announcement said he was "permitted to retire on health grounds." However, he was immediately taken into custody. Later, he faced serious accusations. His removal was part of a power struggle within the military leadership. The strong leader, Than Shwe, wanted to reduce the power of Khin Nyunt's intelligence group. Many generals did not want to talk with Aung San Suu Kyi or her political party.
Khin Nyunt was held under house arrest for several years. In July 2009, a video of him visiting a former minister was shared. In December 2010, another video of him meeting police officers was seen online. On 13 January 2012, Khin Nyunt was released from house arrest by order of President Thein Sein.
After his release, Khin Nyunt moved to a house in Yangon. He opened a coffee shop, an art gallery, and a souvenir shop there. These shops sold things like wood carvings to tourists. In March 2015, he published a book about his life. It was 657 pages long. In December 2021, the current military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, visited Khin Nyunt's home. It has been reported that Khin Nyunt is facing health challenges as he gets older.
Family Life
Khin Nyunt is married to Khin Win Shwe, who is a medical doctor. They have two sons. Their sons are Lieutenant Colonel Zaw Naing Oo and Dr. Ye Naing Wynn. Dr. Ye Naing Wynn is a doctor and a businessman. He started a coffee company in Myanmar in 1998. He also owns Bagan Cybertech, which was one of the first companies to provide internet service in Myanmar. He also owns different coffee shops and clothing stores. Khin Nyunt reportedly has seven grandchildren.
Images for kids
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Prime Minister Soe Win (left) and former prime minister Khin Nyunt (right) on 21 October 2004.
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Khin Nyunt shortly after release from house arrest on 13 January 2012.
