National Coalition Government
of Union of Burma
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National Coalition Government
of Union of Burma
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Restructuring
the Military Maj Gen Kyaw Win, deputy chief of intelligence, in his recent press conference, confirmed that 10 regional commanders had been brought from outlying areas to Rangoon to fill higher military posts, some left vacant by the recent sackings. He said the SPDC was "bringing in younger and more active military officers." AFP reporting the press conference, quoted Maj Gen Kyaw Win as saying, "The regional commander (posts) will be filled up by commanders of army divisions." Despite Kyaw Win's statement, no announcement has been made about the appointment of younger officers to the regional commands. From the state-run Burmese press reports, it appears that the promoted commanders are still in charge of the regional commands and they will continue to be so until their successors are announced. The only announcement by SPDC concerning military appointments has been the naming of Maj. (Lt) Gen Thein Sein as the new Adjutant General replacing the number four man in the SPDC, Lt Gen Win Myint, and Maj (Lt) Gen Tin Aung Myin Oo as the new Quartermaster General taking over the place of Lt Gen Tin Hla. (The Quartermaster General's Office wields more clout over military units since it controls military supplies, fuel, vehicles, and other military unit needs whereas the Adjutant General Office only deals with personal matters of individual soldiers, controlling their leaves, travels, health benefits, and so forth) What
The Changes Mean The significant development is that these promoted generals will continue to be members of the SPDC and when new regional commanders are appointed the new commanders will not have any say in the SPDC. The move initiated by the top leaders in the SPDC is aimed at depriving the new regional military commanders of decision-making powers at the national level. Bureau
of Special Operations SPDC has not appointed a new BSO Commander so far and by all appearances, there will not be one. BSO Commander's duties will most likely be shared among the newly created Army Group Commands. The four generals tipped to become Army Group Commanders (Tat-Taw-Suu-Hmuu) are: (1) Maj.
(Lt.) Gen. Kyaw Win (Commander of Northern Command, Myitkyina) At the time of the helicopter crash that killed him, Lt. Gen. Tin Oo had two important positions in the Army--Chief of Staff of the Army and Commander of the BSO. The position of the Chief of Staff (Army), according to BSR, will most likely go to Maj. (Lt.) Gen. Ye Myint (former Commander of Central Command, Mandalay) and Maj (Lt.) Gen. Thura Shwe Mann (Commander of Southwest Command, Bassein) will become the newly created position of Joint Chief of Staff (Army-Navy-Air Force). The Army is the most powerful branch of the Defense Services in Burma and Maj (Lt) Gen Shwe Mann's new position places him as the third most powerful officer in the combat wing after Senior General Than Shwe and the Commander-in-Chief of Army, Gen. Maung Aye. NewsDesk of 12 November reported that Maj (Lt) Gen Shwe Mann might replace Gen Maung Aye as the Commander in Chief of Army and that has not happened so far. The
new SPDC lineup Lt Gen Khin Nyunt is also the only secretary left in the SPDC. Deputy Chief of Intelligence Kyaw Win said at the press conference that the Secretary-2 post once held by late Lieutenant-General Tin Oo and the Secretary-3 post held by Lieutenant-General Win Myint "will not be filled". The list below is the new SPDC lineup and their expected ranks in the Defense Services: Chairman
Senior Gen. Than Shwe, Commander-In-Chief (Defense Services) Members
The
Intelligence Wing The Office of Strategic Studies and the Directorate of Defense Services Intelligence have been merged to form the DSIB with seven departments under it--(1) Administration, (2) Foreign Affairs, (3) Counter Intelligence, (4) Internal Security, (5) Border Areas, (6) Computer Section, and (7) Training. Top-level intelligence officers in these departments have also received promotions. What that could mean is that Burma's military which has had three major branches--Army, Navy, and Air Force--may now have four--Army, Navy, Air Force and Intelligence. According to the previous military structure, the DDSI was under the Office of Strategic Studies (also under Khin Nyunt), which reports to the Office of the Commander-In-Chief of Army. Under the new structure, the intelligence wing would become an independent branch and under full control of Khin Nyunt. The
Senior General and Trade Gen. Maung Aye has been in charge of developing the nation's economy as the Chairman of the Trade Policy Council. The secretary of the Council is U Soe Thar (Minister for National Planning and Economic Development and the dismissed Lt Gen Tin Hla was the joint secretary. Lt. Gen Khin Nyunt is the member of the council. The Council's business, among others, is to issue export and import licenses, and it even decides on car import application by individuals. The main source of corruption in the council has been the granting of import licenses for cars, cooking oil, and profitable consumer goods. Senior military officials in the council have been dismissed for corruption even before Tin Hla was sacked. Impact
on The Talks Maj Gen Kyaw Win explained in his press briefing that the military restructuring "has nothing whatsoever to do with the confidence-building talks" between the junta and National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but that the reshuffle could benefit the historic talks aimed at "national reconciliation." With regard to government efficiency, Kyaw Win said, "Things are expected to become faster, quicker and better." Fallout The fallout from their dismissals is already being felt in the private sector. Reports from Rangoon suggest that Pinlon Hteik Htar, a construction and business enterprise once under the protection of Win Myint and known among the people for attracting investors with generous monthly returns, is already reported to be collapsing. The
Lighter Side Burmese and other Southeast Asian kings consider "white" (pinkish) elephants as extremely auspicious and had even fought wars over these animals because, according to traditional beliefs, only powerful and good rulers come to possess them and that they bring good fortune to the country. A more
down to earth comment came from an observer who told the NewsDesk, "If
the 'white' elephant in question is eight years old as reported, it
must have been born in 1993. I cannot see the economy making much progress
since then. Besides, there must be scores of these 'white' elephants
in Africa, a continent never known for any economic prosperity." |
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