Rangoon in History

Leads the interim Executive Council during independence negotiations

Serves as Speaker of the Constituent Assembly during constitution drafting

Becomes head of the interim government after Aung San is assassinated

Assassinated with members of his Executive Council by gunmen linked to U Saw

Aung San is killed while chairing a meeting before independence

Death of Aung San in the Secretariat assassination attack

Assassination of Aung San and ministers later commemorated as Martyrs Day

Helps guide the constitution approved before independence

Forms the first post-independence government of the Union of Burma

Sao Shwe Thaik becomes first President of independent Burma

U Nu becomes first Prime Minister of independent Burma

Continues as Prime Minister after AFPFL electoral success

Leaves the presidency at the end of his constitutional term

Ba U becomes President of the Union of Burma

Succeeds Sao Shwe Thaik as ceremonial head of state

Resigns after his first long premiership

Ba Swe becomes Prime Minister after U Nu resigns

Leads a short AFPFL government during U Nu's absence from office

Ba Swe leaves office as U Nu returns to the premiership

U Nu resumes office for a second premiership

Ba U leaves the presidency

Win Maung becomes President of the Union of Burma

Political split weakens U Nu's government and leads to caretaker rule

Ne Win becomes caretaker Prime Minister to restore order before elections

Hands power to Ne Win's caretaker administration

Leads a military-backed caretaker government under constitutional arrangements

Transfers power back to elected civilian government

U Nu returns as Prime Minister after the 1960 election

Promotes Buddhism as the state religion during his final premiership

Ne Win seizes power and becomes head of state and government

U Nu is overthrown and detained during Ne Win's coup

Win Maung is removed when Ne Win seizes power

Ne Win chairs the Revolutionary Government after abolishing parliamentary rule

The military government announces socialist policies leading to extensive nationalization of trade and industry

Ne Win becomes President under the 1974 socialist constitution

New constitution formalizes BSPP one-party socialist rule

Sein Win becomes Prime Minister under the new socialist constitution

Sein Win leaves the prime ministership

Maung Maung Kha becomes Prime Minister of socialist Burma

Ne Win steps down as President while retaining party dominance

San Yu becomes President of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma

San Yu continues as President after the 1985 one-party election

Organizes the coup & becomes head of the military junta

Students demonstrate, they are broken up by the army who kill about 200 & arrest 3000

Students demonstrate, they are broken up by the army who kill about 200 & arrest 3000

Universities are closed & a dusk-to-dawn curfew is placed on Rangoon & other cities

Maung Maung Kha resigns during the 1988 political crisis

Tun Tin becomes Prime Minister during the final BSPP crisis

San Yu resigns amid nationwide unrest

Sein Lwin becomes President during the uprising

Aye Ko serves briefly as acting head of state

Sein Lwin resigns after violent repression of protests

Aye Ko leaves office after one week

Maung Maung becomes President during the democratic uprising

Saw Maung seizes power as chairman of the military council

Lifts martial law in Rangoon & releases 1700 political prisoners

Tun Tin's premiership ends with the military coup

Saw Maung becomes Prime Minister under the military council

Military council refuses to transfer power after opposition election victory

Than Shwe becomes chairman of SLORC and head of state

Than Shwe becomes Prime Minister after Saw Maung's removal

Saw Maung is removed by senior military leaders

Military council is renamed State Peace and Development Council under Than Shwe