Burma?s Senior General Than Shwe had plenty of good reasons to remove Prime Minister Khin Nyunt, but in doing so he may have hastened the collapse of his regime, Though not unexpected, the Oct 18 removal of 65-year-old Burmese Prime Minister Khin Nyunt may exacerbate the infighting within Burma?s ruling elite, with undesirable consequences for its neighbours. Thailand, for its part, must be more cautious, but sincere, in its offer to help Burma attain a national reconciliation and solve its longstanding political problems. Prior to the arrest of General Khin Nyunt, many Burma watchers had been predicting for weeks an impending showdown between him and the hardliners within the governing State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Burma?s state-controlled radio and television announced his removal in a terse, brief statement the next day, saying that General Khin Nyunt was "permitted to retire for health reasons." Only a few people believe that this was the real reason, as this phrase has often been used in the past after the forced ouster of ministers and senior officers. Commented one Burmese exile: "If this is the reason for dismissal, then whoever appointed him should have been dismissed six years ago for the same reason."