Saw Tun Aung Myint

Saw Tun Aung Myint (born 14 February 1942) is a Burmese politician and retired naval officer. He currently serves as the Leader of the Central Advisory Group of the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) and is the Chairman of the Kayin People's Party (KPP).

Early life and military career

Saw Tun Aung Myint graduated from the Defence Services Academy (DSA) as part of the 6th Intake. He served in the Myanmar Navy, where he received specialized naval training in Denmark and the United States in 1986. During his military service, he attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and served as a Strategic Naval Fleet Commander.

Civil service career

Following the 8888 Uprising, he transitioned to the civil service. He held several senior administrative positions under the Ministry of Transport, including Director at the Seafarer Employment Control Division (SECD). In 1990, he became the Director General of the Department Of Marine Administration and later served as the Managing Director of Inland Water Transport before retiring in 2003.

Political career

In 2010, Saw Tun Aung Myint founded the Kayin People's Party and was elected as its chairman. In the 2010 general election, he was elected as the Minister for Kayin Ethnic Affairs for the Yangon Region Government, a post he held until March 2016. In 2014, he proposed a "12-party talk" for constitutional reform in the Yangon Region Hluttaw, which was approved by a vote of 99 to 9.

While he contested the 2015 and 2020 general elections, he was not re-elected. However, he continued to participate in peace processes as a member of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC).

Post-2021 roles

Following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, he was appointed Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs on 3 February 2021. On 1 February 2023, he transitioned to the role of Leader of the Central Advisory Group of the State Administration Council (SAC). On 31 July 2025, he was reassigned as the Leader of the Central Advisory Group of the National Defence and Security Council.

International sanctions

On 17 May 2021, the United States Department of the Treasury added Saw Tun Aung Myint to its sanctions list due to his role in the SAC-led administration following the military coup.

Personal life

He is married to a senior obstetrician and gynecologist. He is the son of Saw Ba Maung, a lawyer and the final chairman of the Daw Kalu (Karen National Association), established in 1881. In 2022, he was awarded the title of Thiri Pyanchi by the State Administration Council.