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SPDC WHO'S WHO > AUNG KYI
AUNG KYI  

Minister of Labor
Minister of Relations
Major General (retired)

Wife: Thet Thet Swe

Aung Kyi functions as both SPDC Minister of Labor and Minister of Relations. His appointment to act as liason officer with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in October 2007 reflects his reputation as a reasonable problem solver with a proven track record of diplomacy in dealing with UN agencies. He is said to be more accessible and have a better understanding of the workings of the outside world than other generals.

  

MILITARY CAREER

A former principal of a military training school, Aung Kyi worked in the SPDC Immigration Department as the Deputy Minister. Aung Kyi became the Deputy Minister for Labor in 2006, when the SPDC was facing pressure from the International Labor Organization. Aung Kyi is also a member of the junta’s Committee for Prevention of Military Recruitment of Under-age Children. Aung Kyi was promoted to Minister of Labor in October 2007 as well as Minister of Relations when he became the SPDC representative designated to hold talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ranks held and positions

Unknown – Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces Training
May 2006 - Deputy Minister of Immigration and Population
November 2006 – Deputy Labor Minister
2007 – Minster of Labor, Minster of Relations

RELATION TO THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT

On 8 October 2007, Aung Kyi was appointed Minister for Relations to act as liaison officer in negotiations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The appointment of Aung Kyi is the highest ranking official in 19 years to negotiate with Daw Suu.

Aung Kyi met with Daw Suu nine times between October 2007 and January 2010 (25 Oct, 9 Nov, 19 Nov of 2007; 11 Jan, 30 Jan of 2008; 3 Oct, 7 Oct, 9 Dec of 2009; and 15 Jan of 2010).

PERSONAL DATA

ILO

Aung Kyi helped defuse tensions with the International Labor Organization over the issue of forced labor, when the Geneva-based body threatened to refer the situation to the International Court of Justice. In March 2007, he brokered a deal with the ILO to establish a new system of reporting of complaints of forced labor.

In 2006, he told journalists that Burma “will continue to cooperate with the ILO as long as its attitudes are not harmful to the interests of the nation and the people.”

Refugees

In 2006, as Deputy Ministry of Immigration and Population he negotiated with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) over Rohingya refugee issues and helped ease border tensions with Thailand by creating a joint committee to resolve disputes.