A file picture, taken in March 2006, shows PM General Soe Win watching the Armed Froces Day parade in Nay Pyi Taw.

THE Prime Minister, General Soe Win, died on October 12 at the Defence Services General Hospital in Mingaladon township, state media reported.
Gen Soe Win, who was 59, had been hospitalised in Singapore since March, reportedly to be treated for leukemia, but was believed to have returned to Yangon in recent weeks.

Secretary 1 of the State Peace and Development Council, Lieutenant General Thein Sein, has been serving as acting Prime Minister since May.

A funeral notice by Gen Soe Win’s family in state-run newspapers on October 13 said he was due to be cremated at Mingaladon military cemetery, on Yangon’s northern outskirts, at 2pm the next day.

Gen Soe Win was appointed prime minister in October 2004.

He was the former head of the Northwest Command based in Monywa, taking up the post in 1997.

Gen Soe Win, who sat on a series of Tatmadaw committees, was credited with having personally overseen the successful completion of hydroelectric dam, railway and road projects and was respected by his peers for his ability to put plans into action.

Gen Soe Win is survived by his wife, Daw Than Than Nwe, a son, U Nay Soe, and a daughter, Daw Theint Theint Soe.

His twin brother, Maj-Gen Tin Tun, died last month, also reportedly of leukeumia.