Tin Oo

General Thura Tin Oo (, ; born 3 March 1927 in Pathein, often referred to as U Tin Oo) is a retired general, former commander in chief of the armed forces of Union of Myanmar, highly decorated soldier, pro-democracy activist and deputy leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Myanmar.

Military career

Tin Oo joined the army on February 26, 1946 as a Second Lieutenant in Burma Rifle Battalion. He reached the ranks of Lieutenant on January 7, 1947, Captain on September 27, 1948 and served as executive officer at Armed Forces Training Headquarters. On June 22, 1949, he was transferred to No.1 Burma Rifle Battalion as Company Commander. He was promoted to the rank of Major on January 25, 1950 and became Deputy Battalion Commander (2IC) of No.1 Burma Rifle Battalion and took over the position of acting Battalion Commander on November 27, 1951.

Tin Oo was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on January 21, 1954 and became Commander of 4th Infantry Brigade on May 30, 1957. He was then transferred to Army Officer Training School as Commandant on September 13, 1957. Throughout 1958 and 1961, Lieutenant Colonel Tin Oo served as Battalion Commander for No.14 Infantry Battalion (from November 18, 1958), No.2 Burma Rifle Battalion (from February 16, 1961) and after his promotion as Colonel, he became acting Commander for No.13 Infantry Brigade (from February 20, 1961).

He was then given the command of South West Regional Military Command and promoted to the rank of Brigadier General on February 14, 1963. On September 19, 1964 he became Commander of Central Regional Military Command. He was then promoted to the rank of Major General and became Deputy Chief of Staff (Army) on April 20, 1972. On March 8, 1974 he was promoted to the rank of General and became Commander in Chief of Tatmadaw. During his military career, General Tin Oo was awarded with Thuya medal, prestigious award for gallantry and bravery in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of Myanmar Armed Forces. He is an exceptional General and a career soldier, who was highly respected and loved by his men, both officers and enlisted men, and also by the people.

Political career

He was released under general amnesty in 1980, after which he studied and received a degree in Law. On September 2, 1988, he became the Vice Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and on December 20, the Chairman of NLD. From July 20, 1989 he was put under house arrest and from December 22, 1989, he was imprisoned for three years.

On May 30, 2003, Tin Oo, travelling with the caravan of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the NLD, was attacked in the northern village of Depayin by a government-sponsored mob, murdering and wounding many of his supporters. Tin Oo was taken into detention along with Aung San Suu Kyi and was initially held in prison in Kalay in northwestern Myanmar. In February 2004 he was brought back to his home in Yangon, where he is actually held under house arrest. The junta extended his detention by one year in February 2007, 2008, and 2009. The last of these extensions was in violation of the rule of Burmese law, but no explanation was given by the junta. He was released on February 13, 2010.

Notes

See also

National League for Democracy

Military of Myanmar

Myanmar Army

UK Foreign Office Facebook page

Category:Burmese generals Category:Burmese soldiers Category:Civil rights activists Category:Burmese democracy activists Category:1927 births Category:Living people Category:National League for Democracy politicians Category:Burmese prisoners and detainees Category:Prisoners and detainees of Burma