ana galan In the Quest for Utopia 10/20 Yar Kyaw, Page 168 (Article 419) Arrested in 1974 for 4 years and 4 months for participating in the U Thant Crisis, a series of protests that took place in Myanmar in December 1974. The spontaneous protests were in response to the military government’s refusal to give U Thant, the third Secretary-General of the United Nations, a state funeral. The government declared martial law and violently crushed the protest. PAGE 168 OF THE 2008 CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE 419. Article 419 essentially legitimates a military coup in a state of emergency with the chief of the defence forces seizing political power. NAME OF POLITICAL PRISONER: Yar Kyaw GENDER: Male ETHNICITY: Burmese RELIGION: Buddhism DATE OF BIRTH: 2.6.1951 Age 63 EDUCATION: Physics, Yangon OCCUPATION BEFORE PRISON: Student OCCUPATION AFTER PRISON: Tuition teacher and volunteer in charities FIRST TIME IN PRISON ARRESTED on December 1974 for 4 years and 4 months for participating in the U Thant Crisis, a series of protests that took place in Myanmar in December 1974. The spontaneous protests were in response to the military government’s refusal to give U Thant, the third Secretary-General of the United Nations a state funeral. The government declared martial law and violently crushed the protest. WISHES FOR 2015: He wants to see changes in Myanmar and he supports Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. HISTORY CLOSE-UP: LIST OF PRIME MINISTERS OF BURMA The Prime Minister of Burma was the head of government of Burma, also called Myanmar, from 1948 to 2011. The position of Prime Minister was created in 1948, when Burma gained independence from the United Kingdom. Since then, eleven people have held the office (with two of them doing so on multiple occasions). Due to the country’s long period of military rule, it has not been uncommon for the Prime Minister to be a serving (or recently retired) military officer. The actual power of the Prime Minister has considerably varied over time, differing based on who holds the office. In 2004, a power struggle between the then head of state, Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, and his Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt resulted in the Prime Minister being dismissed and arrested. The position was abolished on 30 March 2011, according to the current Constitution adopted in 2008. It provided that the President is both the head of state and head of government. List of Prime Ministers of Burma/Myanmar (1948–2011): 1. U Nu (1907–1995) Took office: 4 January 1948 Left office: 12 June 1956 Party: Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League 2. Ba Swe (1915–1987) Took office: 12 June 1956 Left office: 1 March 1957 Party: Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (1). U Nu (1907–1995) Took office: 1 March 1957 Left office: 29 October 1958 Party: Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League 3. Ne Win (1911–2002) Took office: 29 October 1958 Left office: 4 April 1960[4] Party: Military (1). U Nu (1907–1995) Took office: 4 April 1960 Left office: 2 March 1962[5] Party: Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (3). Ne Win (1911–2002) Took office: 2 March 1962 Left office: 4 July 1962 Party: Military (3). Ne Win (1911–2002) Took office: 4 July 1962 Left office: 4 March 1974 Party: Military / Burma Socialist Programme Party 4. Sein Win (1919–1993) Took office: 4 March 1974 Left office: 29 March 1977[6] Party: Military / Burma Socialist Programme Party 5. Maung Maung Kha (1920–1995) Took office: 29 March 1977 Left office: 26 July 1988[7] Party: Military / Burma Socialist Programme Party 6. Tun Tin (1920–) Took office: 26 July 1988 Left office: 18 September 1988 Party: Military / Burma Socialist Programme Party 7. Saw Maung (1928–1997) Took office: 21 September 1988 Left office: 23 April 1992[9] Party: Military 8. Than Shwe (1933–) Took office: 23 April 1992 Left office: 25 August 2003 Party: Military 9. Khin Nyunt (1939–) Took office: 25 August 2003 Left office: 18 October 2004 Party: Military 10. Soe Win (1947–2007) Took office: 19 October 2004 Left office: 12 October 2007 Party: Military 11. Thein Sein (1945–) Took office: 12 October 2007 Left office: 29 April 2010 Party: Military (11). Thein Sein (1945–) Took office: 29 April 2010 Left office: 2 June 2010 Party: Independent (11). Thein Sein (1945–) Took office: 2 June 2010 Left office: 30 March 2011 Party: Union Solidarity and Development Party Post Abolished (30 March 2011–Present).