Yee Mon (Burmese: ရည်မွန်; also known as Maung Tin Thit or Tin Thit; born 9 August 1967) is a Burmese poet, former political prisoner, and politician currently serving as Minister of Defense of National Unity Government of Myanmar.[1][2]
Yee Mon | |
|---|---|
ရည်မွန် | |
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| Minister of Defense of National Unity Government of Myanmar | |
| Assumed office 16 April 2021 | |
| Appointed by | Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw |
| President | Duwa Lashi La (acting) |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 9, 1967 Maha Aungmye Township, Mandalay Region |
| Political party | National League for Democracy |
| Profession | Politician, poet |
He attended the University of Medicine, Mandalay in 1984. He participated in protests during the pro-democracy uprising of 1988, against the military junta that ruled Burma, and was imprisoned by the regime for seven years. Later, he worked as an environmental activist.[1]
In the 2015 general election, Yee Mon successfully ran for Parliament with the National League for Democracy, in a district of Naypyidaw.[1] He received 27,321 votes, narrowly defeating U Wai Lwin, a powerful former military general and former defense minister.[1] His victory was viewed as a surprise, due to the large number of soldiers and police officers in the district, who were seen as more likely to favor an ex-general.[1]
His discussion in the Myanmar Parliament to amend the National Constitution has been considered a notable step to peacefully remove the country's military from inappropriate political involvement and re-establish it as a proper professional army for national defense.[3]
Notes
edit- ^ a b c d e Thomas Fuller, A Poet's Election Victory Over a Former General Speaks of a New Myanmar Archived 2021-06-03 at the Wayback Machine, New York Times (November 14, 2015).
- ^ Ei Ei Toe Lwin & Pyae Thet Phyom, Drama in NPT as commission rejects ex-minister's petition for vote recount Archived 2017-06-28 at the Wayback Machine, Myanmar Times (November 11, 2015).
- ^ U Yee Mon (Archive) April 20, 2022