He was arrested again from November 1971 to July 1972 for his connection with Burmese expatriates and foreign firms, and action was taken against him the third time in January 1975 for participation in what has come to be known as the U Thant crisis, student-led protests over the shabby treatment by the Ne Win government of the remains of U Thant which were crushed by the military government, when he was given a 10-year prison term.

[2] He was a pioneer in bringing digital switching telephone exchanges to Burma, and has amassed a vast experience with the country's economic system.

A business consultant to many international companies, he was Chairman of Maw Htoon and Partners Co., Ltd., Shambhala Tours Co., Ltd., Shambhala Financial Services and the Myanmar Thai Gypsum Co., Ltd.[3] At a lengthy press conference on 9 September 1989,[2] State Law and Order Restoration Council First Secretary Brigadier General Khin Nyunt stated, "Fifty-two persons including Ye Htoon, who were in charge of the underground youth organization and who were trying to cause unrest in the country, were interrogated, and consequently documentary and other evidence (was) seized... We received information that a person called Ye Htoon, resident at 5/A Po Sein Road, Bahann Township, had been in contact with an organization called 'Da Nya Ta' (Alliance for Democratic Solidarity, Union of Burma) led by Thanmani Bo Khin Maung, and was aiding and abetting that group's work from Yangon since.

Ye Htoon was picked up, had his teeth kicked out and was sentenced to 19 years hard-labor rigorous imprisonment, for participating in the 1988 democratic uprising.

Ye Htoon, as the leader of the Myanmar Mingala Foundation, appeared to be making preparations for the 2010 Burmese elections before his death.