[Myanmar] Maung Aye Recovering From Stroke

[News_Editor]

Maung Aye, pictured while No. 2 in the military junta. (Photo: Reuters)

Maung Aye, the former vice senior-general under Than Shwe’s military junta and No. 2 in the hierarchy of the ruling State Peace and Development Council, is recovering from a stroke after receiving treatment in Singapore.

The 74-year-old is back in Naypyidaw and is getting healthier, though he cannot move his left hand or left leg very well and has slurred speech, according to sources close to the military circle in Naypyidaw, adding that he is undertaking a program of physical exercise to aid himself in his recovery.

His elder brother Kyaw Nyunt who accompanied him to Singapore also returned to Burma recently.

Maung Aye was sent to a military hospital in Naypyidaw on July 8 when he suddenly had a stroke. He was flown the next day to Singapore where he received medical treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in the affluent city-state.

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Maung Aye is known for his heavy drinking, love of golf and extreme bad manners. He graduated from Intake One of the Defense Services Academy (DSA) in 1959. In 1970, he was promoted to major and assigned to work as an instructor at the DSA. He also previously worked as the director of Defense Industries and then commander of Division 77 based in Pegu.

In September 1988, after the army staged a coup and brutally crushed a nationwide pro-democracy uprising, Maung Aye became a member of the newly installed State Law and Order Restoration Council. In 1990, he was promoted to major-general. When Than Shwe took over as commander-in-chief of the armed forces from Gen. Saw Maung in 1992, Maung Aye became deputy to the new junta chief—passing several experienced military officials including Maj-Gen Htun Kyi, Maj-Gen Kyaw Ba, Maj-Gen Sein Aung and Maj-Gen Myint Aung.

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