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31
March 2001
No Public Announcement on Military Appointments
The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) somewhat surprised Burma
watchers recently by not doing what it was supposed to. March 27, 2001
is the 56th anniversary of Burma's "Resistance Day"--the day
marking the beginning of Burma's liberation struggle against Japanese
occupation forces in 1945. Now, designated the "Defense Services
Day," military leaders usually announce important news about the
military on that occasion.
The Defense Services Day this year, however, went by without much fanfare.
No official announcements were made about the new military appointments
that were expected to fill the vacant high-level posts in the military
hierarchy as a result of the deaths of three senior commanders in the
19 February helicopter crash.
Reports on the activities of generals in recent times by the official
media sources indicate the thinking of the top brass in the SPDC.
The deaths of Lt Gen Tin Oo, Brig Gen Lun Maung, and Lt Gen Thura Sit
Maung left the following posts vacant in the ruling State Peace and Development
Council (SPDC), the Defense Services, and the Cabinet:
In the SPDC Secretary-2 (in charge of Special Economic Projects)
In the Defense Services
Army Chief of Staff (held by late Lt Gen Tin Oo),
Chief of Special Operations (held by late Lt Gen Tin Oo)
Inspector General (held by late Brig Gen Lun Maung)
Commander, Southeast Command (held by late Maj. Gen Thura Sit Maung)
In the Cabinet
Deputy Prime Minister (held by late Brig Gen Lun Maung)
Frontrunners for the Vacant Posts
Lt Gen Win Myint
SPDC Secretary-3
Adjutant General
Rangoon media sources have been carrying news about SPDC Secretary-3 Lt
Gen Win Myint officiating in positions previously held by Lt Gen Tin Oo.
He was the chairman of the "leading committee" organizing the
Defense Services Day celebrations, has been meeting Defense Services personnel,
and presenting awards to military personnel at "military code of
conduct competitions". In Burma, where the order of names announced
in connection with officials appearing at functions is very important,
Lt Gen Win Myint's appeared fourth in the list of military officials attending
the Defense Services Day dinner, ahead of the commanders in chief of the
navy and air force.
Another important indicator of Lt Gen Win Myint's ascendancy is the media
reports about his new duties. Without mentioning Lt Gen Win Myint is in
charge of "special economic projects," he was recently in the
news inspecting "Mayan Zweba Extended Prawn Breeding and Production
Zone" and attending at "the inauguration of Hsatthwa Bridge
in Rakhine State"-both of which are special economic projects and
usually under the charge of the Secretary-2 in the SPDC.
Lt Gen Win Myint, described by observers as being loyal to Sr Gen Than
Shwe, is well placed to be the Secretary-2 and the new Army Chief.of Staff.
Lt Gen Tin Hla
Quartermaster General
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for military affairs
He was formerly the commander of the Southwest Military Command who rose
to the rank of Quartermaster General in the reshuffle following the transformation
from SLORC to SPDC. The state-controlled press on 11 and 15 March reported
Lt Gen Tin Hla accompanying Sr Gen Than Shwe, Gen Maung Aye, Lt Gen Khin
Nyunt, and Lt Gen Win Myint as part of the entourages visiting a sick
senior monk and inspecting religious objects pertaining to the Kyaiktiyo
Pagoda.
However, at the Defense Services Day dinner, Lt Gen Tin Hla's name was
only mentioned after several senior officers but most importantly after
Maj Gen Khin Maung Than, commander of Rangoon Military Command. Khin Maung
Than holds a lower military rank than Lt Gen Tin Hla. Maj Gen Khin Maung
Than may have been named before Lt Gen Tin Hla because at the time of
that announcement he was chairing the "Management Committee"
for the Defense Services Day celebrations.
The order of the hierarchy seemed to have returned to normal at the dinner
reception for the visiting Lao vice president, Choummaly Sayasone, when
Lt Gen Tin Hla was mentioned before Khin Maung Than again.
Maj Gen Khin Maung Than
Commander of Rangoon Command
Those who worked with Maj Gen Khin Maung Than say he has "good personality,
thorough working habits, and likeable manners" and "relatively
corruption free." He lacks battle experience but, by virtue of him
being in charge of security for Rangoon, or the SPDC itself, he can be
seen as trusted by SPDC leaders. Khin Maung Than, former commander of
the 11th Light Infantry Division in Rangoon, survived the shakeup in 1997
when SLORC became SPDC. There have been traditions of Rangoon Military
Command commanders assuming top military or government positions previously.
Major General Kyaw Win
Deputy Director of DDSI and OSS
Works under and reports directly to Lt Gen Khin Nyunt but is closely trusted
by Than Shwe, his senior officer when Than Shwe was commander of 88th
Light Infantry Division. Fast rising in the ranks, and was head of Intelligence
in Mandalay. He plays too crucial a role for Than Shwe to be moved out
from his current position.
Other Commanders
Maj Gen "Thura" Shwe Mann, commander of Southwest Command, a
decorated officer with good combat experience, reported to be "a
moderate," and is tipped for promotion.
Maj Gen Ye Myint, commander of Central Command, is lower in seniority
than other commanders, but is said to go out of his way to please Than
Shwe; his wife, Tin Lin Myint alias May Ba, a medical doctor, is said
to work closely with Lt Gen Khin Nyunt's wife, Dr. Khin Win Shwe, also
a medial doctor, in NGO activities.
Maj Gen "Thiha Thura" Tin Aung Myint Oo, commander of the Northeast
Command, relatively junior in seniority, but well decorated for combat
experience, is reported to be close to Gen Maung Aye and is being tipped
as one of the frontrunners for promotion.
Maj Gen Aung Htwe, believed to be weak but oldest and most senior among
the regional commanders took over Western Command when Win Myint got promoted,
has helped implement Than Shwe's pet road project in Rakhine State,
Dispelling Rumors
Following the helicopter crash that killed important officers, rumors
circulated about "intense power struggle" between the combat
wing headed by Gen Maung Aye and the intelligence wing led by Lt Gen Khin
Nyunt and about Gen Maung Aye being held under arrest by his rivals. These
rumors however were quashed when Sr Gen Than Shwe publicly led an entourage
with the two generals together on 11 and 15 March. Rangoon radio monitored
in Mae Sot also reported Maung Aye touring northern Shan State on 5 and
6 March.
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