Position: Under house arrest; former Prime minister and Secretary 1
Date of Birth: 11 October, 1939
Birthplace: Syriam, Kyauktan
Ethnicity and Religion: Burman/Chinese, Buddhist
Education: Officer’s Training School (25th Batch) in 1960; dropped out of Yankin College (late 1950s)
Latest News:
Rumoured to be still consulting Naypyidaw on the democratic process and foreign policy
Background
Prior to his arrest in 2004, Khin Nyunt was Prime Minister for a brief period between 2003-4 and a crucial figure in Burma’s transition to democracy and opening the economy to foreign direct investment. As Secretary-1 and number 3 in the junta, he is credited for designing the 7 step road map and manoeuvring the negotiation process. He is often seen as a soft-liner in the regime and his leadership of the powerful Military Intelligence (DSIB Defence Strategic Intelligence Bureau) was considered a threat to the hard-line top tier generals; a reason that many analysts believe led to his eventual house arrest and fall from power. However it is rumoured that Khin Nyunt is still being consulted by Naypyidaw on the current democratic process and foreign policy issues.
During his time as Secretary-1 and Prime Minister, Khin Nyunt was chief negotiator for the ceasefire agreements between the ethnic groups and normalized relations with powerful neighbours China and Thailand. He was also an important figure in leading Burma into ASEAN in 1997. In 1998 he formed the Political Affairs Committee, mostly comprising of MI officers and the Office of Strategic Studies (OSS) in 1994. In 1988 he & his Directorate of Defence Service Intelligence were crucial in paving the way for the army coup.
Khin Nyunt entered the military service in 1960 as the protégé of Ne Win and was thought to have maintained a good relationship after the coup. He had a strong support base in the intellectual community. It is thought his avoidance of the international media stems from a lack of confidence in his English language ability.
Career Data
18 October 2004
Placed under house arrest for 44 years on corruption charges
25 August 2003
Prime Minister and head of the Directorate Defence Intelligence Services of Intelligence
18 September 1988
SLORC First secretary (Secretary -1) (executive secretary), head of the Directorate Defence Intelligence Services of Intelligence, chairman of the work committee for the development of border areas and national races.
1983
Head of the Military Intelligence Directorate of Defense Services Intelligence (DDSI)
1982
Appointed tactical operations commander of the 44th Light Infantry Division
1970s
Staff officer at the Defence Ministry’s Bureau of Special Operations
