Win Myint

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = His Excellency

| name = Win Myint

| native_name = {{nobold|ဝင်းမြင့်}}

| native_name_lang = my

| image = Myanmar President Win Myint.png

| caption = Win Myint in 2020

| order = 10th

| office = President of Myanmar

| 1blankname = {{nowrap|State Counsellor}}

| 1namedata = Aung San Suu Kyi

| 2blankname = Vice President

| 2namedata = First Vice President
Myint Swe
Second Vice President
Henry Van Thio

| term_start = 30 March 2018

| term_end = 1 February 2021

| predecessor = Htin Kyaw

| successor = Myint Swe (acting)

| office1 = 2nd Speaker of the House of Representatives

| deputy1 = T Khun Myat

| term_start1 = 1 February 2016

| term_end1 = 21 March 2018

| predecessor1 = Shwe Mann

| successor1 = T Khun Myat

| office2 = Member of the Pyithu Hluttaw
for Tamwe Township

| term_start2 = 1 February 2016

| term_end2 = 23 March 2018

| predecessor2 = Lei Lei Win Swe

| successor2 =

| office3 = Member of the Pyithu Hluttaw
for Pathein Township

| term_start3 = 2 May 2012

| term_end3 = 29 January 2016

| predecessor3 = Than Tun

| successor3 = Wai Hlaing Tun

| office4 = Member-elect of Pyithu Hluttaw (1990)

| constituency4 = Danubyu Township № 1

| majority4 = 20,388 (56%)

| term_start4 =

| term_end4 =

| predecessor4 = Constituency established

| successor4 = Constituency abolished

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|11|8|df=y}}

| birth_place = Nyaung Chaung Village, Danubyu, Union of Burma

| spouse = Cho Cho

| children = 1

| party = National League for Democracy

| alma_mater = University of Yangon

}}

Win Myint ({{MYname|MY=ဝင်းမြင့်|MLCTS=wang: mrang.}} {{IPA|my|wɪ́ɰ̃ mjɪ̰ɰ̃|}}; born 8 November 1951) is a Burmese politician who served as the tenth president of Myanmar from 2018 to 2021 where he was removed from office in the 2021 coup d'état.{{cite news |title=Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi 'detained by military', NLD party says |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-55882489 |access-date=31 January 2021 |agency=BBC News |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201180900/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-55882489 |url-status=live }} He was the speaker of the House of Representatives from 2016 to 2018. He also served as a member of parliament in the House of Representatives (Pyithu Hluttaw) from 2012 to 2018.{{cite news|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/2012/news/election2012/election_announc_17.html|title=Names of Pyithu Hluttaw representatives announced|date=2 April 2012|work=Union Election Commission|publisher=Government of Myanmar|access-date=5 October 2012|archive-date=9 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509090053/http://mmtimes.com/2012/news/election2012/election_announc_17.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/Elections-03.htm|title=Brief Biographies of Elected MPs|last=Khin Kyaw Han|date=1 February 2003|work=1990 Multi-party Democracy General Elections|access-date=5 October 2012|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924124837/http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/Elections-03.htm|url-status=live}} Win Myint was viewed as an important ally of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

Early life and education

Win Myint was born in Nyaung Chaung Village, Danubyu, Ayeyarwady Region, then part of the Union of Burma, to parents Tun Kyin and Daw Than. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from the Rangoon Arts and Science University.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/Elections-03.htm|title=Brief Biographies of Elected MPs|last=Khin Kyaw Han|date=1 February 2003|work=1990 Multi-party Democracy General Elections|access-date=5 October 2012|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924124837/http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/Elections-03.htm|url-status=live}} Win Myint is married to Cho Cho and the couple has one daughter, Phyu Phyu Thin, a senior advisor of City Mart Holdings.{{cite web|url=https://pyithu.hluttaw.mm/node/900|title=MP profile|work=Pyithu Hluttaw|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-date=24 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041021/https://pyithu.hluttaw.mm/node/900|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/national-news/18742-speaker-profiles.html|title=Meet the Speakers|author=Lun Min Mang|work=The Myanmar Times|date=29 January 2016|access-date=23 March 2018|language=en|archive-date=24 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324101603/https://www.mmtimes.com/national-news/18742-speaker-profiles.html|url-status=dead}}

Political career

=1988 uprising and 1990 election=

After graduating in geology from Rangoon Arts and Science University, Win Myint became a High Court senior lawyer in 1981 and become a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Myanmar. In 1985, he became a High Court advocate. He was jailed for his role in the 8888 Uprising, and has been described by some who have met him as rather a closed book.{{cite news|last1=Mang|first1=Lun Min|title=Meet the Speakers|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/national-news/18742-speaker-profiles.html|access-date=31 March 2018|work=The Myanmar Times|date=29 January 2016|language=en|archive-date=24 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324101603/https://www.mmtimes.com/national-news/18742-speaker-profiles.html|url-status=dead}}

Out of jail in time for the 1990 Myanmar general election, which the military later nullified, he ran successfully for Ayeyarwady Region’s Danubyu Township, winning a majority of 20,388 (56% of the votes),{{cite web|title=CRPP Notification 38 (translation)|url=http://www.burmalibrary.org/reg.burma/archives/199907/msg00038.html|website=Burma Library|access-date=31 March 2018|archive-date=26 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026141057/http://burmalibrary.org/reg.burma/archives/199907/msg00038.html|url-status=live}} but was never allowed to assume his seat.

=2012 by-election and 2015 election=

Win Myint resumed his political career in the 2012 Myanmar by-elections, winning a Pyithu Hluttaw, lower house seat in Pathein constituency, and going on to become secretary of parliament’s rule of law committee. In the 2015 Myanmar general election, he was elected as Pyithu Hluttaw MP for Tamwe Township. He served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Myanmar from 2016 to 2018.{{cite web|url=https://pyidaungsu.hluttaw.mm/members/56caefa23f609e2b2c8b45ae|title=MP profile|work=Pyidaungsu Hluttaw|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323220201/https://pyidaungsu.hluttaw.mm/members/56caefa23f609e2b2c8b45ae|url-status=dead}}

Presidency

Following the resignation of Htin Kyaw as President of Myanmar, Win Myint resigned as Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw on 21 March 2018, a move seen by many as a preparation by the National League for Democracy for Win Myint to be put forward as a candidate for the presidency. Win Myint was succeeded by his deputy T Khun Myat.{{cite news|last1=Lynn|first1=Nyan Hlaing|last2=Kean|first2=Thomas|title=T Khun Myat: Who is the new Pyithu speaker?|url=https://frontiermyanmar.net/en/t-khun-myat-who-is-the-new-pyithu-speaker|access-date=31 March 2018|work=Frontier Myanmar|date=22 March 2018|language=en|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618052827/https://frontiermyanmar.net/en/t-khun-myat-who-is-the-new-pyithu-speaker|url-status=live}} The Pyithu Hluttaw confirmed the election of Win Myint as the House of Representatives' nominee for Vice-President on 23 March 2018, paving the way for Win Myint to enter the election process for the next President of Myanmar. Win Myint defeated Union Solidarity and Development Party's candidate Thaung Aye with 273 votes to the latter's 27.{{cite news|last1=Lynn|first1=Nyan Hlaing|title=Parliament elects U Win Myint as Vice President, ahead of presidential vote next week|url=https://frontiermyanmar.net/en/parliament-elects-win-myint-vice-president-ahead-presidential-vote-next-week|access-date=31 March 2018|work=Frontier Myanmar|date=23 March 2018|language=en|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618075446/https://frontiermyanmar.net/en/parliament-elects-win-myint-vice-president-ahead-presidential-vote-next-week|url-status=dead}} Win Myint was elected as the 10th President of Myanmar by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (a combined meeting of the two houses of the national legislature) on 28 March 2018, with 403 out of 636 lawmakers voting for him.{{cite news|title=Myanmar elects Win Myint as new president|url=http://www.dw.com/en/myanmar-elects-win-myint-as-new-president/a-43162327|access-date=31 March 2018|work=Deutsche Welle|date=28 March 2018|language=en|archive-date=31 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331174024/http://www.dw.com/en/myanmar-elects-win-myint-as-new-president/a-43162327|url-status=live}}

On 17 April 2018, Win Myint granted amnesty to 8,500 prisoners, including 51 foreigners and 36 political prisoners.{{cite news|title=Myanmar's President Grants Amnesty to 8,500 Prisoners|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/myanmar-president-grants-amnesty/4351503.html|access-date=22 April 2018|work=VOA|date=17 April 2018|language=en|archive-date=10 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910130114/https://www.voanews.com/east-asia/myanmars-president-grants-amnesty-8500-prisoners|url-status=live}}

2021 coup d'état

On 1 February 2021, during a military coup d'état, Win Myint was detained along with fellow parliament members including the State Counsellor and party leader, Aung Sun Suu Kyi, in Naypyidaw. Win Myint was removed from office and replaced by Vice-President Myint Swe as acting head of state.

Later on 4 February 2021, Win Myint was charged for violating rules banning gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trial hearings commenced on 16 February. On 11 October, a Naypyidaw judge formally indicted Win Myint under Section 25 of the Disaster Management Law, which carries a maximum three-year prison sentence.{{Cite web |title=Judge indicts Suu Kyi and Win Myint for alleged breach of Covid-19 rules |url=https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news/judge-indicts-suu-kyi-and-win-myint-for-alleged-breach-of-covid-19-rules |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011163708/https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news/judge-indicts-suu-kyi-and-win-myint-for-alleged-breach-of-covid-19-rules |archive-date=2021-10-11 |access-date=2021-10-14 |website=Myanmar NOW |language=en}} During Win Myint's testimony on 12 October, he revealed that on 1 February in the lead-up to the coup, two senior military generals had attempted to force him to resign, under the guise of "ill health."{{Cite news|last=|date=2021-10-12|title=Ex-Myanmar president says army tried to force him to cede power hours before coup|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/ex-myanmar-president-says-army-tried-force-him-cede-power-hours-before-coup-2021-10-12/|access-date=2021-10-14|archive-date=2021-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012140431/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/ex-myanmar-president-says-army-tried-force-him-cede-power-hours-before-coup-2021-10-12/|url-status=live}}

On 6 December 2021, Win Myint and Suu Kyi were both sentenced to 4 years in jail.{{Cite web|title=Myanmar's Suu Kyi sentenced to four years in jail: Reports|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/6/aung-san-suu-kyi-sentenced-to-x|date=2021-12-06|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206072012/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/6/aung-san-suu-kyi-sentenced-to-x |archive-date=2021-12-06 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=2021-12-06|title=Aung San Suu Kyi: Myanmar court sentences ousted leader to four years jail|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59544484|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206072231/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59544484|archive-date=2021-12-06 |url-status=live}}

As of 21 January 2024, the United Nations list of Heads of State, Heads of Government, and Ministers for Foreign Affairs of all Member States continues to list Win Myint as President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/dgacm/sites/www.un.org.dgacm/files/Documents_Protocol/hspmfmlist.pdf|title=HEADS OF STATE HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MINISTERS FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS|publisher=United Nations|access-date=8 April 2023}}

On 16 April 2024, the military announced that Win Myint had been transferred to house arrest due to a heat wave.{{Cite news |date=17 April 2024 |title=Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi moved to house arrest amid heatwave |language=en |work=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/17/myanmars-aung-san-suu-kyi-moved-to-house-arrest-amid-heatwave |access-date=17 April 2024}} However, pro-democracy publications such as The Irrawaddy claimed that there is little evidence to support the junta's announcement.[https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmars-suu-kyi-remains-in-prison-informed-sources.html Myanmar’s Suu Kyi Remains in Prison: Informed Sources]. April 18, 2024. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418130955/https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmars-suu-kyi-remains-in-prison-informed-sources.html|date=April 18, 2024}}