Myanmar, 2002 — dissident coup conspiracy

Event Summary

This entry is coded 7 March 2002, corresponding to the Ne Win family coup plot in Myanmar. On 7 March 2002 the ruling State Peace and Development Council regime arrested the son-in-law and three grandsons of former dictator Ne Win, who had ruled Myanmar from 1962 to 1988 and was still believed to wield influence over senior commanders. Two days later, on 9 March, Vice-Chief of Defence Services Intelligence Major General Kyaw Win explained that the four had been arrested in connection with a coup attempt.

The plan, according to the government, was to win over military commanders and use their troops to overpower security forces at the residences of the top three regime leaders, Senior General Than Shwe, General Maung Aye, and Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, then bring them before the aged Ne Win and coerce a transfer of power to a new government that would acknowledge his authority. The plot leaked after the conspirators approached a senior officer who tipped off the regime. More than 100 people were implicated, the four principals were sentenced to death and later given life terms, and Ne Win and his daughter were placed under house arrest, with Ne Win dying in isolation in December 2002.