22 Facts About Thein Sein

Thein Sein is a Burmese former politician and retired general in the Myanmar Army who served as the eighth President of Myanmar from 2011 to 2016.

Thein Sein previously served as Prime Minister from 2007 to 2011, and was considered by many in and outside Myanmar as a reformist leader in the post-junta government.

Thein Sein's government undertook a series of political reforms including some deregulation of the country's censored media, releasing many political prisoners and halting the country's controversial large Chinese-led hydro-power project.

Thein Sein was born in Kyonku, a small Irrawaddy delta village near Hainggyi Island in what is Ngapudaw Township to Maung Phyo and Khin Nyunt in 1945 during the Japanese occupation.

Thein Sein's parents were landless farmers, and his father made a living carrying cargo at the river jetty and weaving bamboo mats.

Thein Sein graduated from the 9th intake of the Defence Services Academy with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968, becoming a second lieutenant afterward.

Thein Sein was then promoted to brigadier general, but remained at his position in the War Office, which marked the first time a brigadier general was promoted to General Staff Officer.

Thein Sein was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general that year.

Thein Sein was appointed in April 2007 by the nation's ruling military junta as interim prime minister, replacing Soe Win, who was undergoing medical treatment for leukaemia.

Thein Sein was formally appointed as Soe Win's permanent successor on 24 October 2007 after Soe Win's death on 12 October 2007.

Thein Sein held the position of first secretary in the ruling State Peace and Development Council junta.

Thein Sein was the country's fourth-highest ranking general, and served as the chairman of the government-sponsored National Convention Convening Commission.

Thein Sein carried out high-level negotiations with Bangladesh and Cambodia.

Thein Sein ran against National Unity Party candidate Kyaw Aye during the election, contesting a Pyithu Hluttaw seat to represent the constituents of Naypyidaw Union Territory's Zabuthiri Township.

Thein Sein was sworn in on 30 March 2011 alongside the two vice-presidents and the newly elected parliament.

In 2012, Thein Sein proposed that the minority Rohingya ethnic group, which had lived in Burma for hundreds of years, be "resettled" abroad, a proposal the United Nations was quick to object to.

Thein Sein has supported domestic policies that label Rohingya as "non-citizens".

On 27 August 2012, Thein Sein announced a major cabinet reshuffle of 9 ministers and 15 deputy ministers, to consolidate the authority of his office by removing hardliner ministers and replacing them with political allies.

On 16 October 2012, Thein Sein was re-elected as the chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party at the USDP's first party conference in Naypyidaw.

Thein Sein has since lived in quiet retirement, maintaining his silence following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'etat.

Thein Sein appeared again during an interview in April 2023, stating that the former military regime isolated the country for 20 years and that he personally negotiated for an end to sanctions during his presidency.

Thein Sein suffers from heart disease and uses a pacemaker.