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A Gaffe, or a Career Move?



  Asiaweek
  September 1, 2000

  A Gaffe, or a Career Move?


  With the kyat down to about 380 to the U.S. dollar, maybe it wasn't -- or 
just maybe it was -- the
right time to take a swipe at Myanmar's leadership. Deputy minister for 
national planning and
economic development Brig.-Gen. Zaw Tun would have known he was entering a 
minefield when he
did exactly that. And indeed he was sacked after addressing a seminar on 
July 7 at the Myanmar
Business Association in which he said (among other things): "Some who are 
holding responsibilities in
the country lack proper 'awareness.'" He's hinted at his frustration 
before, but this time he went public
-- and was punished. An act of self-immolation? Doubtful. Zaw Tun is savvy, 
well respected and
considered among the next wave of leaders. Among those he chastised was 
Senior General Than
Shwe, who more or less runs the country. Than Shwe oversaw the calculation 
of the country's
economic growth rate, and under his direction GDP grew 10.9% in 1999-2000 
-- an improbable
(and inaccurate, says Zaw Tun) surge from the 5.8% registered the previous 
year. Zaw Tun went on
to criticize those responsible for souring the investment climate, 
delivering an inconsistent trade policy
and the budget deficit the country has run ever since these generals seized 
power in 1988. Why isn't
the citizenry up in arms? "The fact is people turn off the TV when the news 
is shown and turn on their
videos," Zaw Tun says he told Than Shwe. "Only after the news do they 
switch the TV on again to
view Chinese movies. Perhaps it is only the Senior General who watches the 
news." Not much of a
career move, but you have to wonder if Zaw Tun -- and other young officers 
-- have a plan to make
some news of their own.