Her Excellency
Kyaing Kyaing
ကြိုင်ကြိုင်
First Lady of Myanmar
In role
1992–2011
Appointed byChairman of State Peace and Development Council
Prime MinisterThan Shwe
Khin Nyunt
Soe Win
Thein Sein
Preceded byAye Yee
Succeeded byKhin Khin Win
Spouse of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Myanmar
Appointed byCommander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Myanmar
Preceded byAye Yee
Succeeded byKyu Kyu Hla
Parton of Myanmar Women Affairs
Succeeded byKhin Khin Win
Personal details
Born
Ma Kyan

Kaw Kyaik, Burma
SpouseThan Shwe
RelationsNay Shwe Thway Aung (grandson)
Children8
Parent(s)Kyu Tin (father)
Phwar May (mother)

Kyaing (Burmese: ကြိုင်ကြိုင်) is the former First Lady of Myanmar, the wife of former dictator Than Shwe who was the head of state of Burma from 1992 to 2011 as Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). She became First Lady of the country when her spouse became the Head of the State and Government. She is considered to be the most powerful woman in her time, often enjoyed great power that was derived from her husband's favor.[1][2][3][4] Kyaing Kyaing was a honorary patron of the Myanmar Women's Affairs Federation.

Early life and family

Kyaing Kyaing was born in Kaw Kyaik Township, Kayin State, Myanmar. She is of Pa-O descent. She is the fifth daughter of nine siblings. She was educated in Moulmein.[5] They have five daughters, Aye Aye Thit Shwe, Dewa Shwe, Khin Pyone Shwe, Kyi Kyi Shwe, and Thandar Shwe, and three sons, Kyaing San Shwe, Thant Zaw Shwe and Htun Naing Shwe.[6][7]

Political influence

Kyaing Kyaing shares her husband's superstitious beliefs and has been known to act as a mystic medium. She exerts significant influence over Than Shwe's personal life, overseeing the preparation of his meals and controlling access to him. She also wields significant power in government and military appointments, as her approval is required before any appointment can be made. According to the Democratic Voice of Burma, Kyaing Kyaing's power to hire and fire individuals in government and military positions has resulted in her receiving significant rewards such as luxury homes in new housing developments and business concessions. The business community in Myanmar has claimed that as the Burmese New Year approached, Kyaing Kyaing demanded gifts worth at least 6 billion kyat ($5 million) from them. She displayed signs of delusions of grandeur, expecting people to address her as "your majesty" and to drop to their knees in her presence.[8]

Kyaing Kyaing used a sentimental approach to prevent her husband, Than Shwe, from retiring from active political life. She appealed to his love for their favorite grandson, asking who else would take care of the grandson's future if Than Shwe retired. As a result, Than Shwe continued to hold on to power. Kyaing Kyaing is believed to have held a strong grudge against Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy. Some suspect that she may have been involved in the violent attack against the pro-democracy activists and her supporters in May 2003. When a minister was arrested on charges related to a $10 million business scandal, over 30 unlicensed cars and a large amount of gold and jewelry were found during a raid on his home. Kyaing Kyaing reportedly requested that the confiscated goods be delivered to her by army associates, but Than Shwe intervened and countermanded her instruction.[9]

On 2 March 2023, the military government awarded her the title of Agga Maha Thiri Thudhamma Theingi, one of the country’s highest religious honors, for significantly contributing to the flowering and propagation of Buddhism.[10]

Yadaya rituals

Similar to many members of the ruling military, Kyaing Kyaing and her husband hold strong superstitious beliefs and often seek advice from astrologers and other individuals who claim to possess supernatural insights. Kyaing Kyaing and her husband are also known to practice yadaya, a form of voodoo believed to provide protection against misfortune. There have been reports suggesting that they may have attempted to use the rituals of yadaya in an occult manner to influence meetings with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.[11]

Kyaing Kyaing has been a fervent believer in nats, or spirits, astrology, and yadaya for many years. According to reports, in the 1980s, an astrologer who was also a monk predicted to Kyaing Kyaing that her husband would one day become the head of the government. The same astrologer also claimed that her husband had been a king in a past life. After the first prediction came true, Than Shwe reportedly developed an interest in astrology and yadaya. He began seeking advice from astrologers and soothsayers, including E Thi, one of Myanmar's most famous fortune-tellers.[11]

Kyaing Kyaing visited the Shit Myet Hna Pagoda in Kyaukse, her husband's birthplace, to perform a yadaya ritual. The pagoda is known as the "Eight Faces" pagoda because it faces eight points of the compass. During her visit, Kyaing Kyaing reportedly prayed symbolically for support from all directions for her husband and his regime.[12][13]

In 2009, Kyaing Kyaing donated and placed the diamond and jewel encrusted hti, the seinbudaw (diamond orb), and the hngetmyatnadaw (pennant-shaped vane), atop the uppermost part of the 2,300-year-old Danok Pagoda.[14] Many people believed that the ceremony was a yadaya and seeking divine blessings for her husband's glory.[15] However, the pagoda collapsed, killing at least 20 people and injuring about 150[16][17][18]

References

  1. ↑ "Ill Kyaing Kyaing Absent at State Dinner Celebrating Independence". The Irrawaddy. 8 January 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "Delhi rolls out red carpet for Myanmar dictator". Rediff News. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  3. ↑ "Daw Kyaing Kyaing breaks leg". ButmaNet News. 17 December 2007. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "First Lady Daw Kyaing Kyaing" (PDF). The New Light of Myanmar News Paper. 27 November 2004. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "The Faces of Burma 2005". The Irrawaddy. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "Than Shwe's daughter wedding". YouTube. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  7. ↑ "Ill Kyaing Kyaing Absent at State Dinner Celebrating Independence". The Irrawaddy. 8 January 2008.
  8. ↑ "Kyaing Kyaing [Burma's First Lady]". The Irrawaddy. 6 December 2005.
  9. ↑ "The Faces of Burma 2005". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  10. ↑ ENG, IRW (4 March 2023). "Junta Watch: Regime boss targets 'Western culture'; Than Shwe Falls From Favor; and More". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Than Shwe Finds Burma's Fate in the Stars". The Irrawaddy. 23 November 2007.
  12. ↑ "Daw Kyaing Kyaing and great yadayas". The Sun Rays. No. Vol : 1 No. : 22. 22 March 2014.
  13. ↑ Mydans, Seth (17 June 2009). "An Ancient Pagoda's Collapse Turns Myanmar's Gaze to the Stars". The New York Times.
  14. ↑ "Daw Kyaing Kyaing conveys diamond orb, pennant-shape vane atop Hsandawshin Hsutaungpyae Danok Pagoda" (PDF). The New Light of Myanmar. 8 May 2009.
  15. ↑ "Pagoda Power". The Irrawaddy. 4 July 2009.
  16. ↑ "Danok Pagoda's Fate is Unknown". The Irrawaddy. 10 September 2009.
  17. ↑ "Superstition and the Danok Paya collapse". New Mandala. 1 June 2009.
  18. ↑ "20 Die as Ancient Pagoda Mysteriously Collapses". The Irrawaddy. 1 June 2009.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.