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Confusion, Speculations Rife Over Helicopter Crash That Killed General

One of Burma's powerful generals, Lieutenant General Tin Oo, Army Chief of Staff and Secretary-2 in the ruling State Peace and Development Council, died in a helicopter crash on 19 February.

There were 29 people in the Russian MI-17 helicopter—seven crew members and 22 military personnel—when it crashed in the Salween River "due to bad weather" near Tayok Hla village after taking off from Moulmein for Pa-an.

A short official news release from the junta, the only one so far, said "Commander of Southeast Command Maj-Gen Thura Thiha Thura Sit Maung and Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Brig-Gen Lun Maung" were among the officers in the helicopter. "The Secretary-2 and an officer were killed, and 11 officers and other ranks and 2 crew members rescued from the helicopter. Remaining 14 persons including two pilots and three crew have not been accounted for, so far. The search for the missing persons is going on." No further details were provided.

Other media sources have identified the officer who died together with Lt Gen Tin Oo as Army Major Aung Phone Naing of the Burmese Defense Services Academy.

News of 'Untimely Deaths'

Earlier news agencies reports indicated that Minister for Progress of Border Areas and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt died in the crash. But, a Rangoon Radio broadcast monitored in Mae Sod reported Minister Col. Thein Nyunt as "inspecting vegetable plots and development projects in Hlegu on 20 February."

There were also reports about Maj Gen Lun Thi, minister of energy, being killed. But he was being mistaken for Prime Minister's Office Minister Brig-Gen Lun Maung who was in the helicopter at the time of the crash.

Other Reports

An ABSDF news report said when the helicopter carrying Lt Gen Tin Oo crashed into the Salween River, about three furlongs from the Salween River Bridge, a security team immediately went to the site on a rescue mission. "The survivors, including Lt Gen Tin Oo, were taken to Pa-an General Hospital. The general died at 1950 hours on 19 February.

The other people identified by ABSDF as being killed in the crash were:

Brig Gen Lun Maung, Naval Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Kyi Min, and Col Win Hlaing of the Defense Services Intelligence.

Rangoon Media Behavior Following Helicopter Crash

While news of the helicopter crash was spreading like wildfire internationally on 19 February, Rangoon television and radio stations monitored in Mae Sod remained uncannily silent about the incident. The first indirect report about the death of Lt Gen Tin Oo was carried by an English language television broadcast on the morning of 20 February. The program carried an editorial: "Depends on What You Did in Your Lifetime," about a "fallen son of the nation" without naming names. No announcements or official releases were made in Burmese language.

The same day, a short announcement was officially released about the general's death and it was made only in English language and only through the Internet Version of The New Light of Myanmar, which the people inside Burma have no access to.

So far, no details have yet been announced about the 14 people reportedly missing when the helicopter crashed, or the names of the survivors, or cause of the crash.

Hunt On for Successors as General's Death Creates Room At the Top

Members of the ruling military junta in Burma are discussing who should take over as its fourth most senior leader following the death of Lt Gen Tin Oo. Lt Gen Khin Nyunt has returned to Rangoon and has canceled his scheduled tour of Mandalay while Gen Maung Aye's public appearance was last reported on 12 February when he attended the Union Day dinner. Both are believed to be attending closed meetings to restructure the top positions in the State Peace and Development Council.

If no surprises occur, Secretary-3 Lt Gen Win Myint, who is also the adjutant general, should take over the vacant Secretary-2 position but Quartermaster General and Deputy Prime Minister Lt Gen Tin Hla is reported to be a strong contender for the position as well.

Lt Gen Tin Hla is a peer to Lt Gen Win Myint and was said to have strongly protested when the latter was appointed as Secretary-3. The top generals were said to have named Tin Hla as the deputy prime minister because of that protest.

Meanwhile, a name that is frequently appearing in Rangoon radio and press since the death of Tin Oo has been Lt Gen Ye Myint. He is the commander of Central Command based in Mandalay and is known for his close association with Lt Gen Khin Nyunt.

There have been speculations that the death of Tin Oo has weakened "a hawkish faction" led by the junta's Vice Chairman General Maung Aye. They say the choice of a successor will indicate whether hardliners or reformists have the upper hand in the government.

Khin Nyunt, meanwhile, has told Myanmar Times in an interview that rumors of a split within the ranks in the military had been spread by foreign media and some diplomats.

Thai-Burma Talks End in 'Deadlock' Military Buildup Reported

The first round of talks on the Thai-Burma conflict held in Tachilek and Mae Sai last week ended in a deadlock. Third Army commander Lt-Gen Wattanachai Chaimeunwong said he was not optimistic about the chances of a new round of border talks. It was up to Burma to call a meeting. He said, Thailand would not push for talks since the latest round of clashes had not stemmed from the Thai side.

Lt Gen Khin Nyunt, Secretary-1 of the ruling State Peace and Development Council, on 19 February said, "The recent Burma-Thailand border incident... has caused misunderstandings. Some officials of the other country are making biased accusations and one-sided talks based on one-sided information.... We believe that this matter should be solved with optimistic approach based on mutual understanding, respect, and magnanimity as true good neighbors. Although our government is a military government, it has no aggressive attitude...But Burma will never accept any false accusation and wrong action."

In response, the Thai Foreign Ministry said Burma should formally propose a meeting to settle the dispute rather than talk about its wishes for a peaceful solution.

The state-run daily, New Light of Myanmar accused Thailand of not being a "good neighbor." It said, "Instead of lending us a helping hand in this task (of defeating the rebels), they are assisting the drug traffickers...which threaten the human race." The paper hinted that the Thai army was using the SSA to fight a proxy war.

Meanwhile, AFP quoting intelligence sources said Rangoon has deployed six Chengdu F-7 light fighter interceptors to Keng Tung, 150km north of Tachilek, opposite Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai, and also sent 50 Chinese-made light tanks to the area.

Thailand has also placed on full alert air force pilots at Wing 41 in Chiang Mai, Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima, and Wing 4 in Nakhon Sawan, as the build-up in the conflict zone increased.

The military buildup in Tachilek-Mae Sai border follows Shan soldiers raid on and overrunning of Ban Pha-hi, 5km southwest of Mae Sai, on 21 February. One Burmese soldier was reportedly killed and five were wounded when the Shan soldiers took the outpost.

Kyat Dives to New Low

A source in Rangoon said on 21 February renewed fighting at the Thai-Burma border has taken a toll on commodities in Burma, which have seen supplies dry up and prices spiral upwards. The cost of goods transported across the Thai border has skyrocketed nearly a hundred percent.

Meanwhile, Burma's currency, kyat, dropped with unprecedented speed against the US dollar, and hitting new record lows on 20 February amid crippling inflation in the prices of imported consumer goods.

The kyat hit 560 per dollar on 20 February (Tuesday), down from 520 a day earlier, and 505 at the weekend. At the time of reporting, the kyat has made slight gains and has settled at around 520.

The official exchange rate - unchanged for nearly four decades - is just six kyats to the dollar.

Gold dealers said the price of 24-carat gold bars had shot up to 70,000 kyat per tical (0.525 troy ounce) from 62,000 in September and 51,500 last March, despite a government warning not to exceed a price of 58,000 kyat per tical.