Former Foreign Minister Win Aung dead

by Mizzima News
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 17:19

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Former Burmese Foreign Minister Win Aung (65), died early on Wednesday morning in Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison, while under detention, family sources said.

A family member told Mizzima that he died of illness related to age but did not specify the disease, saying they are in no mood to give details as they are now in mourning.

The family member said the body is being kept in a funeral parlour and the obituary would be announced on Thursday.

Sources close to the family said Win Aung died at about 1:55 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday in the prison.

Eyewitnesses said, the body was brought out of the Insein prison and was transported in a hearse owned by the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) escorted by the police.

Win Aung was one of those trusted by the purged Prime Minister, General Khin Nyunt. He served as the Foreign Minister of the Burmese military regime from 1998 to 2004, until he was purged along with his boss.

While several other officials loyal to Khin Nyunt were also purged along with Win Aung, he was the only one to be imprisoned.