Sawmaung, General

   (1928-1997)

   First Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Committee (SLORC), concurrently serving as prime minister, defense minister, and commander of the Tatmadaw (senior general) following the SLORC seizure of power on September 18, 1988. His military career began in 1949; after rising through the ranks, he became Tatmadaw chief of staff in 1985. A hard-liner loyal to Ne Win and close to Sein Lwin, he was forced to retire as SLORC chairman on April 23, 1992, for reasons of health and was succeeded by the vice chairman, General Than Shwe.