15 Facts About Aung Shwe

Brigadier General Aung Shwe was a Burmese politician and a member of General Ne Win's Burma Rifles rising to Brigadier General.

Aung Shwe was one of the founders and former President of the National League for Democracy who took charge of the party when Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo were under house arrest in the early 1990s and 2000s.

Aung Shwe was born in Rangoon, British Burma to Phoe Con and Daw Thein.

Aung Shwe graduated in arts from Rangoon University in 1940.

Aung Shwe played a role in the 1958 caretaker government and served as a high-ranking military officer led by General Ne Win.

Aung Shwe was a member of the Burma Socialist Party before the 1962 Burmese coup d'etat.

Aung Shwe was forced to retire from Tatmadaw in 1961 after a public disagreement with General Ne Win, on the military's long-term role in government.

Aung Shwe then served as Burmese ambassador to France, Australia, Egypt, Spain and New Zealand from 1961 to 1975.

Aung Shwe settled in Rangoon, where in 1988 public demonstrations erupted that eventually spread across the country.

Aung Shwe founded National League for Democracy Party with Tin Oo and secretary-general, Aung San Suu Kyi on 27 September 1988.

Aung Shwe was a leading member of the NLD and chairman of the Patriotic Old Comrades' League in 1988.

Aung Shwe was elected as the MP for Yangon Region Mayangon Township Constituency No 1 in the 1990 Myanmar general election.

Aung Shwe was chairman of the Committee Representing the People's Parliament, a group of successful candidates in the 1990 elections.

Aung Shwe died on 13 August 2017 at Victoria Hospital in Yangon, Myanmar.

Aung Shwe is survived by his three sons and three daughters namely Aung Than Shwe, Than Pe Shwe, Aung Myint Shwe, Yuzana Shwe, Myinzu Shwe and Sabai Shwe.