Aung Gyi
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Aung Gyi | |
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အောင်ကြီး 陈旺枝 | |
President of the National League for Democracy | |
In office 27 September 1988 – 3 December 1988 | |
Leader | Aung San Suu Kyi |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Tin Oo |
Member of the Revolutionary Council of Burma | |
In office 2 March 1962 – 8 February 1963 Serving with Ba Nyein and Tin Pe | |
Personal details | |
Born | 16 February 1919 Brigadier General |
Unit | 4th Burma Rifles |
Commands | Western Regional Military Command |
Battles/wars | Rohingya conflict |
Brigadier General Aung Gyi (Burmese: အောင်ကြီး [ʔàʊɰ̃ dʑí]; 16 February 1919 – 25 October 2012) was a Burmese military officer and politician. He was a cofounder of the National League for Democracy and served as president of the party.
Early life
He was born to a
Military career
Aung Gyi was member of General Ne Win's 4th Burma Rifles rising to brigadier general.
He played a role in the
Aung Gyi's role in suppressing the anti-government
Prior to the 8888 Uprising, Aung Gyi had written several long open letters, widely distributed throughout the country, to Ne Win criticising the government, and they became an important factor for the opposition movement. On 7 March 1988, Aung Gyi wrote his first letter to Ne Win, suggesting economic reforms and a new cabinet. He strongly criticised the government's Burmese Way to Socialism and warned of possible social unrest. On 9 May 1988 he wrote a second 40-page open letter, reiterating the need for economic reforms.
In 1988, he emerged as prominent opposition leader and was imprisoned between 29 July and 25 August 1988. However, he remained a supporter of Ne Win and the army. Just before the army staged its coup on 18 September 1988, he told a crowd that he guaranteed that the army would not stage a coup and the interim government will be formed very soon: "I will kill myself, [if the army staged a coup]". After the coup, Aung Gyi told people who came to listen his speech that they "must not think bad (or 'sin' against) the army even in your minds".
Founding the NLD
The
In 1993 Aung Gyi was sentenced to six months imprisonment for not paying a bill for eggs.
In 1998 he visited the United States and recorded an extensive interview with Radio Free Asia. When asked about the army, he said: "People despise the Tatmadaw. This is a bad sign. The people of Burma have lost faith in the Tatmadaw." While he acknowledged the corruption and nepotism of the top junta leaders, he considered that democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was surrounded by communists, the same accusations made by the junta. He blamed the NLD for boycotting the National Convention established to draft a new constitution. He said, "I want U Ne Win to contribute something before he dies, because he knows what is right and wrong". He stated that Ne Win was still influential and had ordered the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to change the name of the government and reshape the cabinet in 1997.[citation needed]
Aung Gyi was among the few who attended the funeral of Ne Win in 2002 who spoke fondly of Ne Win's achievements in helping bring independence to Myanmar in 1948, but he also stated that "Ne Win betrayed Burma and Ne Win betrayed the country. He committed rape of democracy in Burma by staging a coup. He died an inglorious death. It was a sad and tragic ending".
Death
On 25 October 2012, Aung Gyi died at his home in
References
- ^ "Backdown or bloodbath". Far Eastern Economic Review. Burma Action Group. 22 September 1988. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
- Jimei old man want to keep on fammily love]. www.mhwmm.com (in Chinese). Mianhua Web. Archived from the originalon 2018-05-09. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
- ISBN 9780810854765.
- ^ a b Nyein Nyein (26 October 2012). "Former Junta No. 2 Aung Gyi Dies Aged 94". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- Short Biography
- "Army Socialism". Time. (February 22, 1963). - about 1963 ousting of Aung Gyi.
- Radio Free Asia: Editorial & Opinion: "Aung Gyi, Burma's General of ill omen" 6 October 1988, with extensive quotations from his interview.
- Associated Press 6 December 2002, "Former dictator Ne Win's remains scattered in river"
- Making Enemies: War and State Building in Burma. Mary Patricia Callahan (Cornell University Press 2003)