19 Facts About Khin Nyunt

Khin Nyunt was instrumental in implementing reforms aimed at modernizing intelligence operations and promoting national security interests.

Khin Nyunt played a significant role in Myanmar's political landscape.

Khin Nyunt graduated from the 25th batch of the Officers Training School, Bahtoo, in 1960, after he dropped out of Yankin College in the 1950s, forging a path that would intertwine with intelligence operations and key political roles.

Khin Nyunt's leadership oversaw the recalling of the suspended National Convention, influencing Myanmar's political trajectory.

Khin Nyunt was born on 23 October 1939, in Kyauktan Township, near Rangoon.

Khin Nyunt is of Burmese Chinese descent, with parents who were Hakkas from Meixian, Meizhou, Guangdong, China.

Khin Nyunt graduated from the 25th batch of the Officers Training School, Bahtoo in 1960, after dropping out of Yankin College in the late 1950s.

The State Law and Order Restoration Council was renamed as the State Peace and Development Council in 15 November 1997, and Khin Nyunt was appointed as its first secretary, a post which he held until his appointment as prime minister in 25 August 2003.

Shortly after Khin Nyunt was appointed as prime minister, he announced a seven-point roadmap to democracy on 30 August 2003; this roadmap was heavily criticized by the Burmese opposition as well as by many foreign governments especially Western ones as it envisaged a permanent military participation in the government.

From 1988 until his purge in 2004, Khin Nyunt oversaw the arrest of around 10,000 people.

Khin Nyunt was instrumental in closing the universities, then reopening them after they had been relocated to remote, ill-equipped campuses where students could no longer organise protests or get a meaningful education.

On 18 October 2004, in a one-sentence announcement signed by SPDC Chairman Than Shwe, Khin Nyunt was "permitted to retire on health grounds".

Allegations of Khin Nyunt's corruption were officially made several days later.

On 5 July 2005, Khin Nyunt was tried by a Special Tribunal inside Insein Prison near Rangoon on various corruption charges.

In December 2010, another 16-minute video of Khin Nyunt meeting with the Chief of Police Khin Yi and other senior police officers was circulated on YouTube.

Khin Nyunt's brother-in-law was Than Nyein, a long-term political prisoner under military regime and founder of National Democratic Force Party, who died of lung cancer in Yangon on 21 May 2014.

Khin Nyunt was released from house arrest on 13 January 2012 by the order of President Thein Sein.

On 2 March 2015, Khin Nyunt published a 657-page autobiography, providing insights into various aspects of his life.

Khin Nyunt is married to Khin Win Shwe, a medical doctor, and has two sons.