"The sudden ouster of Shwe Mann from Burma?s ruling party reconfirmed that the military is not about to relinquish power... The sudden removal of one of Myanmar?s most powerful men sent shockwaves through the diplomatic community in the old capital of Yangon, where foreign embassies are still located. It seemed more like a midnight coup than an ordinary leadership reshuffle—security forces in the new capital, Naypyidaw, entered the headquarters of the de facto ruling party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, or USDP, late August 12. The following day, it was announced that Shwe Mann, the speaker of the Lower House of Myanmar?s bicameral parliament, a former general and anticipated by some foreign observers to be the country?s next president, had been ousted..."