Shwe Mann

Thura Shwe Mann (, ; born 11 July 1947) is a Burmese politician who was Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw, the lower house of parliament from 31 January 2011 to 29 January 2016. He is a former army general and, whilst being a protégé of senior general Than Shwe, was considered the third most powerful man in the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), which ruled Myanmar until 2011. He was the first to be appointed as Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air), the third highest military appointment in Myanmar, in 2001.

He was elected to parliament in the 2010 general election. He was later selected as Speaker of the lower House at the first regular session of the Pyithu Hluttaw in 2011. He was crucial in the newly found activism of the Lower House vis-à-vis the Upper House and the executive.

In May 2013, he replaced President Thein Sein as head of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). That same year, he confirmed he would run for president in 2015. He later founded the Union Betterment Party (UBP), which existed from 2019 to 2022.

Military career Shwe Mann graduated from the Defence Services Academy, Intake 11, Pyin Oo Lwin in 1969. He quickly rose through the ranks, and became major in 1986.

He served as a Regiment Commander in Karen State and earned the honorific title Thura (brave hero) for his military campaign against the Karen National Liberation Army in 1988. The campaign led to the eventual capture of the Karen National Union (KNU)’s headquarters in the Methawaw Area. He served as a tactical operations commander for Light Infantry Division (LID) 66 based in Prome from 1993 to 1995. His achievements in the Karen state in 1994 meant that he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. He was commander of the elite LID 11 based in Inn Daing, near Yangon in 1996. In November 1997, he was promoted to the rank of major general and became a permanent member of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). That same year, he became commander of South-west Command in Pathein, Ayeyarwady Division. He concurrently served as the chairman of the Ayeyarwady Peace and Development Council.

In line with the SPDC’s developmental rhetoric, he supported a number of initiatives aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and food security. These included supporting seasonal crop rotation, and converting more than 1 million acres of low, dry and wetlands into cultivated land. This was possible thanks to improvements in water channelisation and river banks. 500,000 acres of intensive and extensive fishery farms were also created. He was promoted to Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) in 2001. That same year, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general. As a key figure in the SPDC, he seems to have overseen a number of offensives against ethnic insurgents. This claim has been raised specifically in relation to the 2006 offensive against the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA).

In September 2010, he retired from the army. Following his retirement, Shwe Mann became a candidate for the newly created Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). He was selected as a representative for Zay Yar Thiri constituency in the 2010 general election.

Relationship with Than Shwe Shwe Mann has had a close relationship to former dictator General Than Shwe. When Than Shwe became commander-in-chief of the Tatmadaw in 1992, he made Shwe Mann one of his deputies.

Relationship with other senior officials Shwe Mann played a key role in the ousting of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt in 2004. After Khin Nyunt’s arrest, Shwe Mann famously said that “Nobody is above the law.”

He was seen as the most likely successor to General Maung Aye, who was Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Allegedly, Shwe Mann and Maung Aye were political rivals.

Shwe Mann was also an alleged rival to first vice-president Tin Aung Myint Oo. But he contested in 2015 General Election as a candidate representing USDP in Phyu Township constituency. He lost his seat to Than Nyunt, NLD's candidate, but remained as a prominent figure and closed ally to Aung San Suu Kyi. He was appointed in February 2015 as head of the Commission for the Assessment of Legal Affairs and Special Issues.

Reform process Shwe Mann has claimed that “reforms are irreversible” and their goal is “to build a multi-party democratic system and a market economy.”

He has been seen as a staunch critic of corrupt practices amongst public officials. He had reportedly ordered action against corrupt authorities as far back as 2005. He has firmly supported liberal reforms and the turn towards a market economy in Myanmar. He has been critical of Thein Sein’s “sluggish” approach to liberalisation,

He has been praised for reaching out to political activist groups, including the 88 Generation Students Group. He has often remarked on the importance of upholding the 2008 Constitution.

Ethnic politics He has referred to the Rohingya crisis as a sensitive issue that requires immediate attention.

He has therefore praised the potential of the ASEAN Economic Community as an “asset” to the economies of ASEAN nations and as a dialogue partner for the rest of the world. He is married to Khin Lay Thet, a former high school teacher.

Business ties (and corruption allegations) It has been alleged that his sons have used their father’s political clout to advance their business interests.

Aung Thet Mann

Aung Thet Mann is the chief executive officer at Ayer Shwe Wah, which became the first private company allowed to export rice to Bangladesh and Singapore in 2005. The company is part of Burmese tycoon Tay Za’s Htoo Group of Companies.

When Shwe Mann was Regional Commander in the Ayeyarwady Division, Ayer Shwe Wah received lucrative government contracts to supply fertilizers to farmers throughout the delta. The company also received 30,000 acres of land for development under the government’s Lowland Development Program. These have since been returned with all dues and taxes paid for.

Ayer Shwe Wah has also been involved in construction projects in Naypyidaw.

Toe Naing Mann

Toe Naing Mann is the founder of Red Link Communications, a major Burmese telecommunications group. In 2004, Toe Naing Mann married Zay Zin Latt, daughter of Khin Shwe, who is the president of Zaygabar Co. Ltd. and a leading Rangoon real estate mogul. Among its businesses, Zaygabar operates the Karaweik Restaurant, a structure on Kandawgyi Lake, and handles Kandawgyi People Park’s operations.

In October 2007, the U.S. Treasury placed Khin Shwe and Zaygabar on its list of individuals and business targeted for sanctions.