Union Revolutionary Council
The Union Revolutionary Council was the supreme governing body of Burma from 2 March 1962, following the overthrow of U Nu's civilian government, to 3 March 1974, with the promulgation of the 1974 Constitution of Burma and transfer of power to the People's Assembly, the country's new unicameral legislature.
The Revolutionary Council's philosophical framework was laid in the Burmese Way to Socialism, which aspired to convert Burma into a self-sustaining democratic socialist state, on 30 April 1962. On 4 July 1962, the URC established the Burma Socialist Programme Party, the country's only legal political party which Donald M. Seekins claims was modelled along the lines of a Marxist-Leninist revolutionary party. From 1962 to 1971, BSPP transitioned from a cadre party into a mass party. In the First Congress, the party had 344,226 members. By 1981, BSPP had 1.5 million members.
Leadership
The Union Revolutionary Council was led by Ne Win, its chairman and 16 senior officers.The founding members of the First Revolutionary Council, all of whom were military officers, are:
- General Ne Win BC-3502
- Brigadier General Aung Gyi BC-5458
- Commodore Than Pe
- Brigadier General Thomas 'Tommy' Cliff
- Brigadier General Tin Pe BC-3508
- Colonel Than Sein BC-3574
- Colonel Kyaw Soe BC-3526
- Colonel Chit Myaing BC-3520
- Colonel Khin Nyo BC-3537
- Colonel Hla Han
- Brigadier General San Yu BC-3569
- Brigadier General Sein Win BC-3525
- Colonel Thaung Kyi BC-3523
- Colonel Kyi Maung BC-3516
- Colonel Maung Shwe BC-3575
- Colonel Saw Myint BC-3518
- Colonel Tan Yu Sai BC-5090
Council member terms
Name and Rank | Military Position | RC Position | Date |
General Ne Win BC 3502 | Chief of Staff of Armed Forces | Chairman | 2 March 1962 to 1 March 1974 |
Brigadier General Aung Gyi BC 5458 | Vice Chief of Staff | Member | 2 March 1962 to 7 February 1963 |
Brigadier General Than Phay | Vice Chief of Staff | Member | 2 March 1962 to 22 May 1962 |
Brigadier General Tin Phay BC 3508 | Chairman of Forestry | Member | 2 March 1962 to 14 November 1970 |
Brigadier General Tommy Clift | Vice Chief of Staff | Member | 2 March 1962 to 2 November 1964 |
Brigadier General San Yu BC 3569 | North Western Regional Military Command | Member | 2 March 1962 to 2 March 1974 |
Brigadier General Sein Win BC 3525 | Central Regional Military Command | Member | 2 March 1962 to 2 March 1974 |
Colonel Kyi Maung BC 3516 | South Western Regional Military Command | Member | 2 March 1962 to 12 March 1963 |
Colonel Maung Shwe BC 3575 | Eastern Regional Military Command | Member | 2 March 1962 to 22 September 1972 |
Colonel Thaung Kyi BC 3523 | South Eastern Regional Military Command | Member | 2 March 1962 to 2 March 1974 |
Colonel Than Sein BC 3574 | Colonel General Staff | Member | 2 March 1962 to 2 March 1974 |
Colonel Kyaw Soe BC 3526 | Military Appointment Secretary | Member | 2 March 1962 to 2 March 1974 |
Colonel Saw Myint BC 3518 | Director - Border Troops | Member | 2 March 1962 to 17 August 1964 |
Colonel Chit Myaing BC 3520 | Member | 2 March 1962 to 31 March 1964 | |
Colonel Khin Nyo BC 3537 | Director - Military Training | Member | 2 March 1962 to 9 June 1965 |
Colonel Tan Yu Saing BC 5090 | Member | 2 March 1962 to 6 October 1970 | |
Colonel Lun Tin BC 3610 | Commander - No. 7 Infantry Brigade | Member | 5 July 1962 to 9 July 1971 |
Colonel Maung Lwin | Member | 12 September 1964 to 2 March 1974 | |
Colonel Tin Oo BC 3651 | South Western Regional Command | Member | 12 September 1964 to 2 March 1974 |
U Ba Nyein | Member | 9 July 1971 to 2 March 1974 | |
Dr. Maung Maung | Member | 9 July 1971 to 2 March 1974 | |
Mahn Thar Myaing | Member | 9 July 1971 to 2 March 1974 |