Lwin, U

   A leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and a member of its executive committee. Along with U Tin U, U Kyi Maung, and U Aung Shwe, he was a veteran military officer, who joined the Burma Independence Army in 1942 and was sent to undergo military training in Japan. Between 1962 and 1988, he served in various posts in the military and the government under Ne Win before retiring from the State Council in 1980. He joined the NLD at its inception in 1988 and became its secretary in 1992; at present, he plays the important role of spokesman for the party to foreign diplomats and journalists at a time when its top leaders are again under house arrest.