Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Army

Summary

The Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Army (Burmese: ကာကွယ်ရေးဦးစီးချုပ်(ကြည်း)) is the highest ranking military officer of the Myanmar Army. Up until 1990, Myanmar Armed Forces has Chief of Staff system and Myanmar Army was led by Vice Chief of Staff (Army). A new system was introduced in 1990 during Armed Forces reorganisation and all three branches of Armed Forces are now led by the Commander-in-Chief.[1] The Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Army also traditionally serves as Deputy Commander-in-Chief.[2]

Commander-in-Chief of the Army
ကာကွယ်ရေးဦးစီးချုပ်(ကြည်း) (Burmese)
Flag of the Commander in Chief of Myanmar Army
Incumbent
Vice-Senior General Soe Win
since 1 April 2011
 Myanmar Army
Reports toCommander-in-Chief of Defence Services
AppointerPresident of Myanmar
Term lengthNo fixed length
PrecursorVice Chief of Staff (Army)
Formation4 January 1948
First holderSaw Kyar Doe

List of chiefs edit

Vice Chief of Staff (1948–1990) edit

No. Portrait Vice Chief of Staff Took office Left office Time in office Notes
1
 
Doe, SawBrigadier general
Saw Kyar Doe
4 January 194831 July 1948209 daysKaren Officer, then named "Deputy Chief of Army staff. Was replaced with Ne Win in August 1948. So Kya Doe moved to the post of Chief of Operation but forced to retire due to civil war with Karen
2
 
Win, NeBrigadier general
Ne Win
(1910–2002)
1 August 19481 February 1949184 daysMember of Thirty Comrades, Became Chief of General Staff in February 1949. Later became President and Chairman of Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) till July 1988
3
 
Gyi, AungBrigadier general
Aung Gyi
(1919–2012)
28 April 19597 February 19633 years, 184 daysPromoted from Colonel General Staff in April 1959 as Vice Chief Staff (Army) but resigned in February 1963 and was imprisoned few times. First Chairman of NLD but left after few months in December 1988
4
 
Yu, SanBrigadier general
San Yu
(1918–1996)
9 February 196320 April 19729 years, 71 daysLater became Chief of Defence Staff in April 1972 // then Became Secretary of Council of State in March 1974 President
5
 
Oo, TinBrigadier general
Tin Oo
(born 1927)
20 April 19721 March 19741 year, 315 daysSucceeded San Yu as Chief of Defence Staff in 1974 but dismissed two years later and imprisoned for alleged holding of information in coup attempt next year, later founded NLD with Suu Kyi and Aung Gyi and became Vice-Chairman of National League for Democracy and chairman when Aung Gyi left. House arrest for few times and became Vice Chairman of NLD again and later Patron of NLD
6
 
Htin, KyawBrigadier general
Kyaw Htin
(1925–1996)
2 March 19746 March 19762 years, 5 daysLater became Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister // Briefly became Joint General Secretary of BSPP in 1988 July- September
7
 
Ko, AyeLieutenant general
Aye Ko
(1921–2006)
2 April 19767 August 19815 years, 154 daysLater became BSPP general secretary and then Vice President
8
 
Ye, TunLieutenant general
Tun Ye
7 August 198121 July 19831 year, 348 daysRetired from Army in 1983 at age 60 and became Member of Council of State till 1988. Then became general secretary and then Chairman of National Unity Party which was re-incarnation of BSPP
9
 
Maung, SawLieutenant general
Saw Maung
(1928–1997)
21 July 19834 November 19852 years, 106 daysBecame Chief of Defence Staff in November 1985 // later promoted to Senior General, coup in 1988 and formed State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
10
 
Shwe, ThanLieutenant general
Than Shwe
(born 1933)
4 November 198518 March 19904 years, 134 daysBecame Commander in Chief of Tatmadaw in 1992// later promoted to Senior General and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)

Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Army (1990–present) edit

No. Portrait Commander-in-Chief Took office Left office Time in office Notes
1
 
Shwe, ThanGeneral
Than Shwe
(born 1933)
18 March 199022 April 19922 years, 35 days.
2
 
Aye, MaungVice Senior General
Maung Aye
(born 1937)
22 April 199231 March 201118 years, 343 dayslater promoted to Vice Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)
3
 
Win, SoeVice-Senior General
Soe Win
(born 1960)
1 April 2011Incumbent13 years, 21 days.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Selth, Andrew (2002): Burma's Armed Forces: Power Without Glory, Eastbridge. ISBN 1-891936-13-1
  2. ^ Maung Aung Myoe (1999). Building the Tatmadaw. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 73. ISBN 9780731527427.