Than Shwe
Soe Win was appointed prime minister by State Peace and Development Council chairman Than Shwe on 19 October 2004. Soe Win succeeded Khin Nyunt, who officially had been "permitted to retire for health reasons", but the reformist-minded premier had actually fallen out of favor with Than Shwe. Khin Nyunt was later convicted by a special tribunal of corruption charges and sentenced to 44 years in prison.