State Peace and Development Council
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The State Peace and Development Council (Burmese: 
; IPA: [nàiNŋàNdɔ̀ éiʤáN θàja yéi n̥ḭN pʰṵNpʰyo yéi kaùNsì]; abbreviated SPDC) is the official name of the military regime of Myanmar (also known as Burma), which seized power in 1988. The regime is widely accused of brutal persecutions of minority ethnic groups, opposition groups, students and human-rights activists.
In 1997, Myanmar's ruling military junta, previously known as State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), changed its name to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
The SPDC consists of the commanders of the service branches and of the regional military commands. The eleven members of the junta[1] probably wield a great deal more power than the cabinet ministers. Some members of the junta also hold cabinet portfolios. By most accounts, regional commanders enjoy a great deal of autonomy in their respective areas.
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[edit] History
SLORC was formed when the Burmese armed forces, commanded by General Saw Maung (later self-promoted to 'Senior General' Saw Maung, died July 1997), seized power on 18 September 1988 crushing the 'Four Eights' uprising. On the day it seized power SLORC issued Order No.1/1988 stating that the Armed Forces had taken over power and announced the formation of the SLORC. With Order No. 2/1988, the SLORC abolished all 'Organs of State Power' that were formed under the 1974 Burmese Constitution. The Pyithu Hluttaw (the Legislature under the 1974 Constitution), the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet), the Council of People's Justices (the Judiciary), the Council of People's Attorneys (the 'Attorney-General Office'), the Council of People's Inspectors (the 'Auditor-General Office'), as well as the State/Division, Township, Ward/Village People's Councils were abolished.
The SLORC also stated that the services of the Deputy Ministers in the previous Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) government which it replaced were also terminated. (Under the 1974 Burmese Constitution the 'Council of Ministers' acted as a Cabinet but since the Deputy Ministers were not considered to be formally part of the Council of Ministers the SLORC made sure that the Deputy Minister's – together with the Ministers' – services in the previous BSPP government from whom it had taken over power were also terminated.) The Orders that SLORC issued on the day of its takeover can be seen in the 19 September 1988 issue of The Working People's Daily. The first Chairman of SLORC was General Saw Maung, later Senior General Saw Maung. Saw Maung was also the Prime Minister. Saw Maung was removed as both Chairman of SLORC and Prime Minister on 23 April 1992 and General Than Shwe (later Senior General Than Shwe) took over both posts from him.
On 15 November 1997 the SLORC was abolished and reconstituted itself as the State Peace and Development Council. Most but not all members of the abolished SLORC were in the SPDC.
[edit] Chairmen
[edit] State Law and Order Restoration Council of the Union of Myanmar (1988–1997)
- Senior General Saw Maung (18 September 1988 – 23 April 1992)
- Senior General Than Shwe (23 April 1992 – 15 November 1997)
[edit] State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar (since 1997)
- Senior General Than Shwe (15 November 1997 – present)
[edit] Current members
Ordered by protocol:
- Chairman, Senior-General Than Shwe, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
- Vice-Chairman, Vice Senior General Maung Aye, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Commander-in-Chief (Army)
- General Thura Shwe Mann, Joint Chief of Staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force
- General Thein Sein, Prime Minister,
- Lieutenant-General Thiha Thura, Tin Aung Myint Oo, First Secretary of SPDC, Quartermaster General
- Lieutenant-General Ye Myint, Chief of Bureau of Special Operation - 1 (Kachin, Chin, Sagaing, Magawe, Mandalay)
- Lieutenant-General Kyaw Win, Chief of Bureau of Special Operation - 2 (Shan, Kayah)
- Lieutenant-General Khin Maung Than, Chief of Bureau of Special Operation - 3 (Pegu, Rangoon, Irrawaddy, Arakan)
- Lieutenant-General Maung Bo, Chief of Bureau of Special Operation - 4 (Karen, Mon, Tenasserim)
- Lieutenant-General Aung Htwe, Chief of Armed Forces Training
- Lieutenant-General Tin Aye, Chief of Military Ordance
