Minister Aung General

Education

He attended and studied Law at the Rangoon Arts and Science University from 1973 to 1974 before he joined the Defense Services Academy 19th Intake in 1974.

Career

Born in 1956 in Tavoy, Tenasserim Division, Minister Aung Hlaing passed Matriculation class in 1972 at BEHS 1 Latha. He was reportedly shunned by classmates because of his reserved personality. 1972-March / Rangoon Arts and Science University (Law) 1974- University Training Corps (1971-1974 / sergeant) 1974-January / Defence Services Academy 1977-December / second lieutenant in Burma Army.

Minister Aung Hlaing"s father name is U Thaung Hlaing.

U Thaung Hlaing, a civil engineer, worked at the Ministry of Construction. On 30 March 2011 he became the new Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, replacing the outgoing head of state and junta chief, Senior General Than Shwe.

In November 2011, according to the online newsmagazine The Irrawaddy, it was "widely believed" that following Minister Aung Hlaing"s meetings with Chinese military officials that month and his leadership in creating a bilateral agreement on defense cooperation with the Chinese, he had also held talks with Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping regarding cooperation from China with respect to the Kachin Conflict. On April 3, 2012, the Government of Myanmar announced that Minister Aung Hlaing had been promoted to vice-senior general, the second highest rank in the Myanmar Armed Forces.

He was promoted to senior general in March 2013.

Achievements

• In June 2010, Minister Aung Hlaing replaced General Shwe Mann as Joint Chief of Staff of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Politics

Following graduation, Minister Aung Hlaing went on to command positions in Mon State and in 2002, he was promoted to Commander of the Triangle Regional Command and was a central figure in negotiations with two rebel groups, the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA). He rose to prominence in 2009 after leading an offensive against the insurgent National Democratic Alliance Army in Kokang.

Views

On March 27, 2012, during a speech in Naypyidaw, Minister Aung Hlaing defended the military’s continued role in national politics.