Myanmar's Ne Win arrives here today
Myanmar's Ne Win arrives here today
JAKARTA (JP): Myanmar's former leader Ne Win arrives here this
afternoon as President Soeharto's private guest.
In this three-day visit, the retired general will be
accompanied by his physician daughter Dan Khin Win, his son-in-
law U Aye Zaw Win and his grandchild Maung Kyaw Ne Win.
"This visit is to fulfill the President's long-standing
invitation," Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said yesterday.
The two old friends last met in Yangon in February when
Soeharto paid a state visit to the country.
Born on May 14, 1911, Ne Win, whose real name is Maung Shu
Maung, attended a military college in Tokyo in 1941.
After returning home, he made a name for himself as one of the
founding members of the Thirty Comrades organization, which
fought against colonialism in the country. This group later
evolved to become the nucleus of the National Army.
It was around that time that he changed his name to Ne Win,
meaning "The Sun in Glory".
His efforts helped the country gain independence from Britain.
In 1958 Ne Win became prime minister, but his term lasted a
brief 18 months.
In March 1962, he again became prime minister. Then in 1974
the State Council elected Ne Win as president.
On Nov. 9, 1981, Ne Win handed over the presidency to Army
Gen. U San Yu for health reasons.
As explained by Moerdiono, Ne Win's visit would not be filled
with stately functions.
"This is a familial visit to the President, and he is very
willing to visit the grave of the former first lady, the late Ibu
Tien Soeharto, in Solo," Moerdiono said after meeting with
Soeharto at Merdeka Palace.
Tien Soeharto died in April last year.
A senior government official, who preferred anonymity, said
yesterday that the government here was very cautious about
arranging the visit.
It does not want to give the wrong impression to Myanmar's
government, he said while quickly adding that "the chairman of
the State Law and Order Restoration Council, Gen. Than Shwe,
fully supports this visit". (prb)