Thet Lwin

Nai Thet Lwin (; ; also Htet Lwin; 20 October 1940 – 20 September 2023) was an ethnic Mon Myanmar politician who was the Minister of Ethnic Affairs in the government of President Htin Kyaw.

Background Thet Lwin was born to Aung Nyein and Khin Thein in Kawkareik Township, Kayin State, on 20 October 1940. He went to Moulmein College (now Mawlamyine University) and studied philosophy. He started in politics at the age of 18, joining the Mon Development Party. After graduating in 1970, he focused on teaching and preserving Mon literature and culture.

Political career In 1988, he brought Mon politicians together in his house to form the Mon National Democratic Front, as part of the "8888" pro-democracy movement. He became vice-chairman of the MNDF, running for a seat in the Mon State capital, Mawlamyine, in the 1990 election.

Thet helped reestablish the party in 2012, after political parties were allowed again. In 2015 he participated in the founding of the United Nationalities Alliance, which brought together eight ethnic minority political parties in Myanmar. He called for the implementation of a federal system in Myanmar as a top priority and said a democratic system and the rule of law were "of great importance". He was appointed the Minister of Ethnic Affairs, a newly formed ministry, in 2015. Asked what his policies were, he said, simply, "I will follow [NLD Chairperson] Daw Aung San Suu's instructions ... the country's ethnic minorities all love and trust her."

Thet took office on 30 March 2015 as part of the first government of the country formed by the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) following their victory in the 2015 general election. The vice-chair His daughter, Mi Kon Chan, was elected an MP for the NLD for Paung Township in the 2015 election.

Thet Lwin died from a heart attack in Yangon on 20 September 2023, at the age of 83.