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Ne Win
Moshe Pridan · Public domain
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Ne Win

Military leader and head of state of Burma from 1962 to 1988

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Ne Win (born Shu Maung; 24 May 1911 – 5 December 2002) was a Burmese general and politician who served as Burma's head of government from 1958 to 1960 and again from 1962 to 1974; and also as head of state from 1962 to 1981. Ne Win was Burma's military dictator during the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma period of 1962 to 1988.

Quick facts

Born
wd
Place of birth
Paungdale wd
Died
wd
Place of death
Yangon wd
Citizenship
Myanmar wd
Occupation
military officer, politician, military leader, head of government wd
Political party
Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (since 1962), Burma Socialist Programme Party (since 1944) wd
Education
University of Yangon wd
Spouse
June Rose Bellamy wd

Positions held wd

  • President of Myanmar (2 March 1974 – 9 November 1981)
  • Burma Socialist Programme Party (4 July 1962 – 23 July 1988)
  • Revolutionary Council of the Union of Burma (2 March 1962 – 2 March 1974)
  • Prime Minister of Myanmar (29 October 1958 – 4 April 1960)

Awards wd

  • Order of the Rajamitrabhorn
  • Ramon Magsaysay Award

About

Ne Win founded the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) and overthrew the democratic Union Parliament of U Nu in the 1962 Burmese coup d'état, establishing Burma as a one-party socialist state under the Burmese Way to Socialism ideology. Ne Win was Burma's de facto leader as chairman of the BSPP, serving in various official titles as part of his military government, and was known by his supporters as U Ne Win. His rule was characterized by a non-aligned foreign policy, isolationism, one-party rule, economic stagnation, and superstition. Ne Win resigned in July 1988 in response to the 8888 Uprising that overthrew the Burma Socialist Programme Party, and was replaced by the military junta of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). He held minor influence in the 1990s but was eventually placed under house arrest, under which he died in 2002. There was no state funeral, public eulogy or monument in his memory.

In foreign affairs, Ne Win followed a strictly neutralist policy during the Cold War, participating in the Non-Aligned Movement and keeping his distance from both the United States and the Soviet Union. On the other hand, his relations with Mao Zedong and China were initially excellent, but were temporarily broken between 1967 and 1971, due to Mao's covert support for the Communist insurgency within Burma and the outbreak of anti-Chinese riots by regime supporters; however, in March 1971 relations were fully restored and Chinese economic aid continued.

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Questions

When was Ne Win born?
Ne Win was born on 24 May 1911 in Paungdale.
What positions has Ne Win held?
Positions held by Ne Win include: President of Myanmar (1974–1981); Burma Socialist Programme Party (1962–1988); Revolutionary Council of the Union of Burma (1962–1974); Prime Minister of Myanmar (1958–1960).
Where did Ne Win study?
Ne Win was educated at University of Yangon.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia (English): Ne Win · CC BY-SA 4.0
  2. Wikidata item Q315522 · CC0 1.0
  3. Image: Ne Win in 1959, Jerusalem.jpg by Moshe Pridan (Public domain)

Last updated · facts checked 5 November 2026

Cite this page

"Ne Win". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/ne-win. Retrieved 6 November 2026.

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Text from the Wikipedia article Ne Win, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Ne Win in 1959, Jerusalem.jpg — Moshe Pridan, Public domain.

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