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Thein Sein, President of Myanmar from 2011 to 2016. Author Kepresidenan.

Top 10 Facts about Thein Sein

Thein Sein was born on 20 April 1944. He is a Burmese politician and Retired general in the Myanmar Army.

Thein served as the eighth president of Myanmar from 2011 to 2016. He also served as the Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010. He is considered a reformist leader in the post-junta government.

 His government undertook a series of political reforms. Such as the deregulation of the country’s censored media. The government also released many political prisoners and halted the country’s controversial large Chinese-led hydro-power project.

His government also led to various developments in Myanmar. These include Myanmar’s appointment to chair ASEAN IN 2014. The country had improved relations with the US. Moreover, the reinstatement of the major opposition party National League for Democracy (NLD) in the by-election held on 1 April 2012.

1. He was Brought Up in a Humble Background

Thein Sein was born in Kyonku. A small Irrawaddy delta village. He was born in a small wooden house on the road that runs through the centre of the town. He was the youngest of three children.

His parents were landless farmers. His parents were Maung Pyho and Khin Nyunt. Thein father( pyho) made a living by carrying cargo at the river Jetty and weaving Bamboo mats.

2. Sein’s Father was a Buddhist Monk

His father became a Buddhist monk 10 years after the death of Sein’s mother. He spent the rest of his year as a monk till his death.

3. He began his Military Career as a Bureaucrat

The President of Myanmar, Mr Thein Sein inspected the Guard of Honour, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi on October 14, 2011. Author Ministry of External Affairs.

He attended and graduated from the Defense Services Academy in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Shortly after graduating, he began his military career as a bureaucrat.

Starting as a second lieutenant, he moved quickly moved through the ranks of the military ladder. In 1988, he served as a major for Sagaing Division’s 55th light Infantry Division. He later served as commander for Sagaing Division’s 89 Infantry Battalion in Kalay Township.

4. He was the First Brigadier General to be Promoted to General Staff officer

In 1991, Thein was promoted to the rank of Colonel and 1st Grade General Staff officer in the war office. Later, he was promoted to Brigadier general.

However, he remained in his position in the war office. This marked the first time a brigadier general was promoted to General Staff Officer.

5. Thein Sein’s political career began as he joined the State Peace and Development Council

He became a member of the state Peace and Development Council in 1998. This was the ruling military regime in Myanmar at the time.

In 2001, he was appointed the second secretary of the SPDC (State Peace and Development Council ). He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general that year.

After Khin Nyunt was deposed and Soe Win became Prime Minister in 2004. He was promoted to Secretary-1.

6. Sein was Appointed by the Nation’s Ruling Military Junta as Interim Prime Minister

The Prime Minister of Myanmar, General Thein Sein, and the Minister of State for Commerce and Power, Shri Jairam Ramesh. Author Ministry of Commerce & Industry

He was appointed in April 2007 as Interim Prime Minister. Thein was appointed by the Nation’s Ruling Military Junta.

He replaced Soe Win. Who was undergoing medical treatment for Leukaemia?

However, he was formally appointed as Soe Win’s permanent successor. This was on 24 October 2007 after the death of Soe.

Additionally, in 2007 after his official appointment as Prime Minister. He was promoted to the rank of general from the lieutenant general.

 He also carried out high-level negotiations with Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. This was during his first official visit outside Myanmar as Prime Minister.

 In the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, he led the National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee as chairman. However, he was criticized for the government’s systematic blocking of relief efforts.

7. His Retirement from the Military

He retired from the military on 29 April 2010. Along with 22 other military officials. To lead the Union Solidarity and Development party as a civilian. Fortunately, he was the head of the party during the 2010 general election.

The party contested in a controversial election. It won the majority of seats in the region of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

Thein Sein ran against National Unity Part candidate Kyaw Aye during the election. He was contesting a Pyithu Hluttaw seat. To represent the constituents of Naypyidaw Union Territory’s Zabuthiri Township. Moreover, h purportedly won 91.2% of the votes.

8. The Country’s First Non-interim Civilian President in 50 years

Burmese President Thein Sein at the 2010 World Economic Forum: Making the Mekong: Regional Growth and Leadership in June 2010. Author Thai Government.

He was elected by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw’s Presidential Electoral College as the next president of Myanmar. This was on 4 February 2011.

He became the country’s first non-interim civilian president in 50 years. Tin Aung Myint Oo and Sai Mauk Kham were named as the new vice presidents.

On 30 March 2011, he was sworn in. Alongside the two vice Presidents and the newly elected parliament.

In the first month of his presidency, he sought the support of ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan to support Myanmar’s bid to chair the ASEAN Summit in 2014. In his presidency, Myanmar took the ASEAN chairmanship in 2014.

9. As President he made Pretty Extravagant Changes and Decisions

Part of the image collection of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).Author IRRI Photos.

Thein’s government embarked on an agenda of political and social reforms. Some of the changes were relaxing press restrictions. He released political prisoners.

Moreover, the civil liberties of activist Aung San Suu Kyi were restored. In early 2012, she was allowed to run for and win a seat in a legislative by-election.

10. He was Ordained as a Monk

The Democratic Voices of Burma published a news article that the Ex-president would be ordained as a monk on 1 April 2016. The article was published a day after Thein Sein left the office.

According to the Democratic Voices of Burma, a spokesperson close to the President refused to disclose where he would be ordained. However, he stated that it would be in a small, peaceful town.

 However, Thein was temporarily ordained under Ashin Nandamalabhivamsa in a monastery in Pyin Oo Lwi. This was under the monastic name U Santidhamma. This was according to a Facebook post.

Thein suffers from Heart disease and uses a pacemaker. He married Khin Khin Win. The couple has three daughters.