Sao Shwe Thaik

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Sao Shwe Thaik

president of the Union of Burma
In office January 4, 1948 – 1952
Preceded by	none (independence of Burma)
Succeeded by	Ba U

Born	1896
Died	November 1962

Agga Maha Thray Sithu Agga Maha Thiri Thudhamma Sao Shwe Thaik , 1896-1962 was the last Saopha of Yawnghwe. He was an aristocrat and a well-respected Shan political figure in Burma (Myanmar). He was educated in his youth at the Shan Chiefs' School in Taunggyi, Burma. He entered the British military service during World War I, and also served in the Northeast Frontier Service from 1920-1923. He became Saopha on the death of his father, Sao Maung in 1929. He again served in the military service from 1939 to 1942. He married four times, and had a total of eight children.

He became the president of the Union of Burma on January 4, 1948 at its independence. He served as the head of state of Burma between 1948 and 1952. After this term as president, he was the chairman of the chamber of nationalities until 1962. In the military coup of March 1962 he was arrested by the Revolutionary Council headed by General Ne Win and died in prison in November 1962. One of his sons at that time, a 17 year old, was killed in the March 1962 military coup, apparently the only casualty on the day of the coup.

Few public records of Sao Shwe Thaik remains inside Burma, as the State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar frequently attempt to suppress information on opponents of General Ne Win. References to Sao Shwe Thaik are often removed from school history textbooks by the censors appointed by State Peace and Development Council.

His residence in Yawnghwe, the haw, is now a museum, and is open to the public.