Career
He is believed to have personally killed Karen rebel leader Saw Ba U Gyi. Aung Gyi and Tin Pe were the senior officers, and Sein Lwin was the field commanding officer in the University region. Number one knows exactly who gave the order.
Sein Lwin, as commander of the security force riot police (Lon Htein) was again responsible for dealing with student protests during the 1988 pro-democracy demonstrations.
On 16 March, following the killing of two students, students marching on Prome Road were confronted near Inya Lake by the riot police and many beaten to death or drowned. On 17 March, soldiers and riot police entered Rangoon University and arrested hundreds of students, 41 dying in custody.
As public unrest grew, a general strike was called for 8 August 1988. Sein Lwin, implementing the threat in Ne Win’s "when the army shoots, it shoots to hit" resignation speech, directed troops to fire on groups of unarmed demonstrators in Yangon during the 8 August 1988 demonstrations (referred to as the 8888 Uprising), killing and wounding hundreds.
Protests, more shootings and arrests continued until Sein Lwin resigned on 12 August.
Foreign these actions, he earned the nickname "Butcher of Rangoon". The State Law and Order Restoration Council was established shortly after by General Saw Maung who staged a coup on 18 September 1988. Following the military takeover, the junta provided assistance to Sein Lwin, including guards, a pension, several four-wheel drive vehicles and monthly food rations.
His death was reported in a state-run newspaper, Myanma Ahlin, which did not give a cause of death.