Aung Thaung

Aung Thaung (; 1 December 1940

Career Aung Thaung was born on 1 December 1940 in Taungtha Township, Mandalay Division, Burma. He graduated from Mandalay University in 1964 and subsequently became a teacher. He joined the army in 1964 and remained active in the military until 1993, when he became a deputy commerce minister. Widely considered a hardliner, he was known for his widespread business interests in Myanmar.

He also served in prominent leadership positions in the Union Solidarity and Development Association, the progenitor of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the country's military-backed political party. He was also involved in brokering several ceasefire agreements with ethnic rebel groups, but was sidelined from the Burmese government's negotiating team with the Kachin Independence Organization in 2012, citing "health reasons." Leaked diplomatic cables linked him to plainclothes paramilitary militias that opposed and attacked protesters to incite counterattack from the protesters, which could serve as a pretext for their arrest. founded in Myanmar in 1994 and registered at Singapore in 2001. His sons are believed to have benefited from a system of economic patronage through Aung Thaung's ability to consolidate government contracts for construction and trade.

Personal life Aung Thaung was married to Khin Khin Yi, and has three sons, Ne Aung, Pyi Aung, and Moe Aung. Pyi Aung (also spelt Pye Aung) is married to Nanda Aye, the daughter of former ruling general Maung Aye. His son Moe Aung is a Vice Admiral and Chief of Staff of Burmese Navy. Yangon-based neurosurgeons were flown in to treat him, but he did not regain consciousness. His body was flown back to Myanmar on the same day.