When National League for Democracy patron U Tin Oo died on June 1, many mourned his passing. He was one of the few military chiefs held in high esteem in Myanmar. His funeral was held on June 5.
Unlike many other Myanmar military generals, who earned medals for gallantry in battle against ethnic revolutionary organizations that were fighting for equality and self-determination, U Tin Oo earned his Thura title for the commitment he demonstrated in driving Kuomintang Chinese nationalist troops out of Myanmar.
Among the politicians of national significance who have died since independent Myanmar’s first coup in 1962 are the country’s first president, Sao Shwe Thaik (died 1962); the third United Nations secretary general, U Thant (1974); the country’s first prime minister, U Nu (1995); former military chief Saw Maung (1997); and the country’s first military dictator, Ne Win (2002).
Sao Shwe Thaik and U Thant died while U Ne Win was in power. U Nu, Ne Win and Saw Maung died while former military dictator Than Shwe was in power. All of them including U Tin Oo should have been honored with a state or military funeral, but they weren’t.
A state or military funeral is meant to pay final tribute to a public figure who has rendered outstanding service to the military or to Myanmar.
U Tin Oo was a respected public figure who deserved to be honored with a state funeral, having rendered meritorious service to protect the country as a military officer, and striven as a politician to initiate a better political system in the country.
Far from honoring him, the regime did not even allow his colleagues, jailed civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ousted President U Win Myint, to pay their final respects to U Tin Oo. It was like barring children from attending the funeral of their parents, intended to add to the psychological torment the regime has inflicted on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint.
U Tin Oo’s death notice was published in a junta-controlled newspaper. The notice on Page 31 of the June 2 issue of Myanma Alin newspaper measured 6.5 square centimeters, comprising just 8.7 percent of the page. The death notice for an ordinary citizen next to U Tin Oo’s notice measured 8.8 square centimeters (11.6 percent of the page).
In other words, Min Aung Hlaing showed his disrespect for U Tin Oo by only allocating a small space in the state-owned newspaper he now controls.
This is not strange. Min Aung Hlaing’s predecessors Ne Win and Than Shwe harbored similar grudges against their enemies and rivals.
Public figures who died during Ne Win’s reign
After staging the coup in March 1962, Ne Win became the first military dictator in Myanmar since the country’s independence.
Sao Shwe Thaik, who had served as Myanmar’s first president from independence in 1948 to 1952, was arrested following the coup. He died in prison of unknown causes some eight months after his arrest.
U Thant was the first Asian to serve as the UN secretary general. He was also the third UN secretary general, serving a 10-year term from 1961 to 1972. After he passed away in November 1974, his body was brought back to Myanmar. University students and the public demanded a state funeral for U Thant, but Ne Win refused and imposed a clampdown on student protesters in what later became known as the “U Thant incident”.
Public figures who died during Than Shwe’s reign
U Nu, Saw Maung and Ne Win died while Than Shwe was in power. If he wished, Than Shwe could have arranged at least military funerals for his predecessors Saw Maung and Ne Win. But he didn’t.
Ne Win was the most powerful and feared person in Myanmar for decades. It was probably karma that resulted in him being placed under house arrest before his death by Than Shwe, his handpicked successor.
Ne Win appointed Than Shwe as deputy military chief in 1985 before appointing him military chief in 1992, replacing Saw Maung. Than Shwe owed a debt to Ne Win, who put him on the throne.
Than Shwe never repaid that debt, instead ordering the arrest of Ne Win in 2002 and placing him under house arrest for the remaining months of his life. Ne Win was cremated the same day he died without fanfare at a ceremony attended by a handful of close relatives. Only two days after Ne Win’s death, Than Shwe put his death notice in a small column in the state-owned newspapers.
Dictators’ grudges
Unsurprisingly, dictators arrest those whom they view as threats to their power. But they should not hold grudges against opponents who have died.
Myanmar’s military dictators, being Buddhists, have had many pagodas built for the promotion of Buddhism. But they barely follow the Buddha’s teachings at all.
Successive military leaders from Ne Win to Than Shwe to quasi-civilian government leaders to Min Aung Hlaing have all wanted themselves to be considered promoters of Buddhism, on the same plane as the Myanmar monarchs of centuries past. This desire can be seen in their building of pagodas and religious buildings in a manner that was typical of the old monarchs.
Ne Win had the Maha Wizaya Pagoda built near the famous Shwedagon Pagoda. Than Shwe had Uppatasanti Pagoda, a replica of Shwedagon Pagoda, built in Naypyitaw. Current junta chief Min Aung Hlaing had the colossal Maravijaya Buddha statue built in Naypyitaw. And to surpass his seniors, he made sure the statue was the tallest of its kind in the world.
All of them have striven to show that they can do better than their predecessors, and have demonstrated no desire to honor or appreciate them.
What does the future hold for living military leaders?
Former military dictator Than Shwe, former president and ex-general Thein Sein, former parliament speaker and ex-general Shwe Mann, former prime minister and ex-general Khin Nyunt and current junta chief Min Aung Hlaing are still alive.
They might want to have at least a military funeral after they die. However, considering the previous examples, a military funeral is something they can dream about, but shouldn’t hope for.
But there is still a chance for them. If current junta chief Min Aung Hlaing apologizes and returns power to the people (and if the former generals are willing), the future government may consider organizing appropriate funerals for “remorseful” former military leaders.
Zung Ring is a social worker and independent political analyst based in Myanmar.
