U K Ba Thaung (1931-2022) - interesting stories of his relationship with General Ne Win, including observations regarding the death of General Aung San and the involvement U Saw and more personal first hand observations of General Ne Win's many unusual superstitions and remedies such as bathing in buffalo blood and his methods to increase his virility.  

I was fortunate to interview Kenneth twice before he passed away on 22 May, 2022 at the age of 91.  We must ensure the life stories of elderly Myanma are recorded in some way or they will be lost forever when they pass away.  

Please feel free to contact me with suggested interviewees at church.peter@gmail.com.

Thank you for listening .

Peter Church

U Kenneth Ba Thaung (1931-2022), his life and career as a military officer including discussing his relationship with General Ne Win and his career running the Pearl and Fishery corporation, as Commissioner of Salt, the establishment of Polo 9 cigarette company and the 7 1/2 years he spent in Insein Prison.

I was fortunate to interview Kenneth twice before he passed away on 22 May, 2022 at the age of 91.   We must ensure the life stories of elderly Myanma are recorded in some way or they will be lost forever when they pass away.  

Please feel free to contact me with suggested interviewees at church.peter@gmail.com.

Thank you for listening .

Peter Church

General Ne Win (1910 -2002) was a Burmese politician and military commander who served as Prime Minister of Burma from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1974, and also as President of Burma from 1962 to 1981.  He was the country's military dictator during the Socialist period from 1962 to 1988.

I wonder how many of those listening to this podcast know that the name "Ne Win" was a nom de guerre used by Ne Win during WW2 to protect his identity.  His birth name was Shu Maung.

In this episode I have only dealt with his early life up to the start of WW2 in Burma.  I will shortly re-publish two interviews with my friend, U Kenneth Ba Thaung  who sadly passed away last year at the age of 91.  Kenneth had a close involvement with General Ne Win and provides some fascinating insights into Ne Win's personality.

I am again indebted to the leading Asian scholar, Professor Robert Taylor for giving me permission to read some extracts from his biography on the life of General Ne Win entitled General Ne Win: A political biography  published in 2015 by the Institute of South East Asian Studies and which can be purchased as an ebook or as a soft cover book - https://bookshop.iseas.edu.sg/publication/2076

Please feel free to contact me with suggested interviewees at church.peter@gmail.com.

Thank you for listening .

Peter Church