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:
  1. General Ne Win BC-3502
  2. Brigadier General Aung Gyi BC-5458
  3. Commodore Than Pe
  4. Brigadier General Thomas 'Tommy' Cliff
  5. Brigadier General Tin Pe BC-3508
  6. Colonel Than Sein BC-3574
  7. Colonel Kyaw Soe BC-3526
  8. Colonel Chit Myaing BC-3520
  9. Colonel Khin Nyo BC-3537
  10. Colonel Hla Han
  11. Brigadier General San Yu BC-3569
  12. Brigadier General Sein Win BC-3525
  13. Colonel Thaung Kyi BC-3523
  14. Colonel Kyi Maung BC-3516
  15. Colonel Maung Shwe BC-3575
  16. Colonel Saw Myint BC-3518
  17. Colonel Tan Yu Sai BC-5090

    Council member terms

Name and RankMilitary PositionRC PositionDate
General Ne Win BC 3502Chief of Staff of Armed ForcesChairman2 March 1962 to 1 March 1974
Brigadier General Aung Gyi BC 5458Vice Chief of Staff Member2 March 1962 to 7 February 1963
Brigadier General Than PhayVice Chief of Staff Member2 March 1962 to 22 May 1962
Brigadier General Tin Phay BC 3508Chairman of ForestryMember2 March 1962 to 14 November 1970
Brigadier General Tommy CliftVice Chief of Staff Member2 March 1962 to 2 November 1964
Brigadier General San Yu BC 3569North Western Regional Military CommandMember2 March 1962 to 2 March 1974
Brigadier General Sein Win BC 3525Central Regional Military CommandMember2 March 1962 to 2 March 1974
Colonel Kyi Maung BC 3516South Western Regional Military CommandMember2 March 1962 to 12 March 1963
Colonel Maung Shwe BC 3575Eastern Regional Military CommandMember2 March 1962 to 22 September 1972
Colonel Thaung Kyi BC 3523South Eastern Regional Military CommandMember2 March 1962 to 2 March 1974
Colonel Than Sein BC 3574Colonel General StaffMember2 March 1962 to 2 March 1974
Colonel Kyaw Soe BC 3526Military Appointment SecretaryMember2 March 1962 to 2 March 1974
Colonel Saw Myint BC 3518Director - Border TroopsMember2 March 1962 to 17 August 1964
Colonel Chit Myaing BC 3520Member2 March 1962 to 31 March 1964
Colonel Khin Nyo BC 3537Director - Military TrainingMember2 March 1962 to 9 June 1965
Colonel Tan Yu Saing BC 5090Member2 March 1962 to 6 October 1970
Colonel Lun Tin BC 3610Commander - No. 7 Infantry BrigadeMember5 July 1962 to 9 July 1971
Colonel Maung LwinMember12 September 1964 to 2 March 1974
Colonel Tin Oo BC 3651South Western Regional CommandMember12 September 1964 to 2 March 1974
U Ba NyeinMember9 July 1971 to 2 March 1974
Dr. Maung MaungMember9 July 1971 to 2 March 1974
Mahn Thar MyaingMember9 July 1971 to 2 March 1974