BURMA ALERT - No. 03/03

17 April 2003

 

The Burma Alert is published by the Associates to Develop Democratic Burma Inc, Canada, in cooperation with the Euro-Burma Office, Brussels.

BURMA'S RULERS - I

NOTE: Early historical dates below are from G E Harvey's "History of Burma", 1925.

Rakhaing rajas (Arakan kings) were said to have ruled in western Burma from 2666 BC. Based on medallions, they certainly ruled from 146 AD until 1785.

Circa 500 AD - earliest inscriptions describe a Pyu (now extinct) civilization.

754 - Nanchao (Shan?) kings ruled the upper Irrawaddy until 1253.

825 - Mon kings ruled lower Burma until they were conquered in 1757.

1044 - Burman kings (A-naw-rah-ta) ruled from Pagan until 1287.

1287 - Shan kings ruled Burma from Ava, Pegu and Toungoo until 1531.

1531 - Burman kings (Ta-bin-shwe-hti) ruled from Toungoo until 1752.

1752 - Burman kings (A-laung-pa-ya) ruled from Shwebo until 1824.

1824 - British annexation of Burma and neighbouring principalities began.

1886 - The Burman kingdom was annexed to British India. Shan and Wa states became British Protectorates and Kachin and Chin Hills were administered separately.

1875 - Western Karenni states were recognized as sovereign states.

1937 - British Burma was separated from British India.

1942 - Japanese occupation of Burma.

1945 - The British returned to Burma.

1947 - Panglong Agreement - to merge Ministerial Burma, the Federated Shan States, and the Kachin and Chin Hills in order to gain independence from Britain.

1948 - The democratic Republic of the Union of Burma was governed by the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL) led by Prime Minister U Nu.

1958 - General Ne Win was appointed by U Nu to head a 'Caretaker' government.

1960 - U Nu's 'Clean' AFPFL won the general elections and ruled until 1962.

1962 - General Ne Win seized power and ruled through the Revolutionary Council.

1974 - Ne Win adopted a new constitution and continued to rule through the Burmese Socialist Programme Party.

NOTE: The Arakan State, Chin State, Kachin State, Karen State, Kayah /Karenni State, Mon State, and Shan State were recognized as administrative units in the BSPP constitution.

1988 - General Saw Maung took over from the BSPP and ruled through the State Law and Order Restoration Council.

1992 - General Than Shwe took over from General Saw Maung as SLORC Chair.

1997 - Than Shwe transformed the SLORC into the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).


THE SPDC, CABINET MINISTERS, & REGIONAL COMMANDERS

The War Office (Ministry of Defense) is the epicenter of power in Burma. Cabinet ministers have little power but their permit granting ability enables them get rich. Less lucrative ministries are assigned to retired officers or civilians. Regional commanders have troops and can make deals with businessmen but their power is localized.

In 1988, SLORC was a careful balance of War Office staff officers and regional commanders of similar seniority (except Khin Nyunt and Tin Oo, who were junior). The original power configuration favoured the War Office as the cabinet consisted of WO officers and no regional commanders.

SLORC = 10 WO + 9 RC = 19

Cabinet (17 ministries) = 7 WO members + 2 other officers = 9

Decision-makers = 19 + 2 ministers = 21.

SLORC had originally intended to hand over power to a new elected government but support from neighbouring countries, the flood of foreign direct investments, and the loss of the 1990 elections, encouraged SLORC to continue ruling.

In 1992, SLORC expanded under Than Shwe. The cabinet also expanded with civilians, officers and retired officers. This was seen as an attempt to cope with the workload created by opening up the economy to foreign investors.

SL = 7 WO + 4 exWO + 8 RC + 2 exRC = 21

Cabinet (22 ministries) = 3 WO + 4 exWO + 7 offs + 3 civs + 11 deputy = 28

Decision-makers = 21 + 21 others = 42.

1995 saw a re-organization with the promotion of Maung Aye from regional commander to Vice-Chair of SLORC. In a major shift, new regional commanders were not appointed as members of SLORC. Former regional commanders remained members of SLORC and were given cabinet posts, which were lucrative. The corruption this arrangement unleashed caused concern amongst the new regional commanders who were left out

SLORC = 5 WO + 7 exWO + 9 exRC = 21

Cabinet (37 ministries) = 1 WO + 5 exWO + 8 exRC + 18 offs + 4 civs + 24 dty = 60

Decision-makers = 21 + 46 others = 67.

In 1997, all SLORC members except four were replaced. The SPDC was formed with all 12 regional commanders, shifting the power balance away from the War Office. The cabinet was expanded to accommodate other officers.

SPDC = 7 WO + 12 RC = 19 members

Cabinet (44 ministries) = 1 WO + 6 exWO + 4 exRC + 27 offs + 4 civs + 24 dty = 66

Decision-makers = 19 SP + 65 other = 84.

In 2002, the SPDC was reduced to 13 and reorganized, again shifting power away from the regional commanders as in 1995. This time the War Office was strengthened with SPDC members holding new positions created to consolidate power in the hands of the SPDC.

SPDC = 13 WO members

Cabinet (36 ministries) = 1 WO + 30 offs + 4 civs + 42 deputy = 77

Decision-makers = 13 SP + 76 = 89.

The current members of the SPDC are:

CHAIRMAN: Senior General Than Shwe

(BC.6710 – OTS.9) who is also -

  • Prime Minister,
  • Defense Minister, and
  • Commander-in-Chief (Def.Ser)

He is 70 years old (2 Feb 1933). He was born in Kyaukse, Mandalay Division, and is a graduate of Kyaukse Government High School. He worked as a postal clerk in Meiktila in 1952. After Officer Training School, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieut on 9 July 1953 with the 1st BuRegt (Min Hla, LID-66). He then spent 5 years in Psychological Warfare units and taught for 4 years at the Central School of Political Science. He saw active service with the LID-77 (Pegu) in 1967 and with the LID-88 (Magwe) from 1971. In July 1983, he was commander, South-West Command (Bassein) and was promoted Brig-Gen in Aug 1984. In 1988 he was a Lieut-Gen and a Central Executive Committee member of the Burmese Socialist Programme Party and held the posts of Chair, Irrawaddy Division BSPP and Deputy Defense Minister. After SLORC took-over, he became Vice-Chair and in 1990 became the Commander-in-Chief of the Army with the rank of full General. He took over from General Saw Maung on 23 April 1992 and promoted himself to Senior General in Oct 1993. Than Shwe is reputedly close to U Kyaw Win, a.k.a. Shwe Than Lwin Kyaw Win, the majority shareholder in the Cooperative Development Bank. Than Shwe and his family are reported to own a chain of doughnut shops and a soft-drink factory. He is married to Daw Kyaing Kyaing, a Pa-O ethnic national.

According to talk on the streets of Rangoon, Than Shwe believes that Burma is prospering economically and does not need to change. He is supposedly an indecisive man who depends on astrological signs to make decisions. He apparently believes his wife's star is on the rise, his grandson is a "min laung" - saviour-king, and that he does not need to talk to democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. According to Larry Jagan of the British Broadcasting Corporation, he hates her.

VICE-CHAIRMAN:

Vice-Senior General Maung Aye

(BC.7875 – DSA.1). He is also -

  • Deputy Commande-in-Chief (Def.Ser)
  • Commander-in Chief (Army).

He is 65 years old (25 Dec 1937). He was born in Kon Balu and joined the Army in 1959. He holds a B.Sc. from the Defense Service Academy. He commanded the LIB-68 (Lashio, NE Com) in 1975, the LID-77 (Pegu) in 1982, North-Eastern Command (Lashio) in 1985, and was promoted Brig-Gen and appointed commander of the Eastern Command (Taunggyi) in 1988. When Than Shwe took over from Saw Maung in 1992, he left the position of SLORC Vice-Chair and Commander-in-Chief (Army) vacant for over a year, causing intense speculation about Maung Aye's future. Maung Aye was finally promoted to Lieut-General and appointed to his current military positions in 1993. He became Vice-Chair of SLORC only in 1994. As commander of the NE and E Commands, Maung Aye is reputed to have built strong ties with 'influential businessmen' in Shan State. These include Saya Kyaung, a.k.a. Aung Ko Win, President of Kanbawza Bank; and Kyaw Win, President of Mayflower Bank, who is close to both drug lord Khun Sa and the leadership of the United Wa State Army - Burma's prime drug producers. Maung Aye was hospitalized in Singapore in March 2003 for a prostrate problem. He is married to Daw Mya Mya San.

Maung Aye is supposedly an apolitical professional soldier who yearns for the good old BSPP days when life was less complicated and Burma was 'self-sufficient' and isolated. It is said that ASSK would prefer to deal with a professional military man like Maung Aye.

SECRETARY-1:

General Khin Nyunt

(BC.8468 - OTS.25). He is also -

  • Chief of Military Intelligence,
  • Chairman of national committees ranging from Health, and Education, to the Central Supervisory Committee for Ensuring Smooth & Secure Transport, and the Leading Committee for the Promotion of Tourism Industry between the Union of Maynmar and the People's Republic of China, and
  • Patron, Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs.

He is 64 years old (11 October 1939). He was born in Kyauktan. Khin Nyunt passed Intermediate B at Rangoon University and joined the Army. After Officer Training School, he saw active service with the 20th Battalion in 1960, LID-77 (Pegu), the LIR-20 (Nyaunglebin, LID-77) in 1978, and the LID-44 (Thaton) in 1982. In between service in the field he also served as GSO-2 (1970s) and GSO-1 Bureau of Special Operations (1980s) in the War Office. A Ne Win protégé, he was recalled to the capital in July 1984 to take-over and re-organize the Military Intelligence Service after North Korean secret agents assassinated four visiting South Korean cabinet ministers and thirteen officials in Rangoon. In 1988, Khin Nyunt was a Brig-Gen and became SLORC Secretary-1. He is said to be the brains behind the SLORC take-over and the cease-fire agreements with ethnic nationalities armies in 1989 which prevented the ex-Communist Party of Burma troops from joining the democracy movement. In 1998, he publicly disowned his son, Ye Naing Win for marrying a foreigner - a Singaporean. As Military Intelligence Chief since 1984, Khin Nyunt is reputed to have also built strong ties with 'influential businessmen'. These include Aik Tun, Vice Chairman and de facto CEO of Asia Wealth Bank, who is said to be connected to the Kokang drug circle; Thein Tun, Chairman of Tun Foundation Bank; and Thein Wei, a.k.a. Serge Pun, President of Yoma Bank. Khin Nyunt is said to own shares in hotels, and in construction and publishing ventures. He is married to Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe. She is the the Leading Patron of the Myanmar Medical Association (Women's Chapter) and Vice-Chair of the Myanmar Maternity and Child Welfare Association.

Khin Nyunt is supposedly the general who realizes the extent of the problems Burma is facing and the need to engage ASSK in a dialogue but she apparently does not want to negotiate with Military Intelligence. His influence is also said to have waned after the SPDC moved against Ne Win in 2002.

SECRETARY-2:

Lieutenant-General Soe Win

(BC.11715 - DSA.12). He is also -

  • Air Defense General, War Office (new position created in 2002).

Soe Win was appointed Secretary-2 on 1 Feb 2003 to replace Lieut-General Tin Oo, who was killed in a helicopter crash in Feb 2001. Deputy Intelligence Chief Major-General Kyaw Win had said on 17 Nov 2001 that the position would not be filled. Soe Win has been very active in the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), the SPDC's civilian arm and Than Shwe's pet project. He has said that the SPDC will not talk to ASSK and never hand over power to the NLD. He has also said that the SPDC does not need to fear the US because of China. In 1988, Soe Win commanded LIR-207 (Theinzeik, LID-22) under BG Tin Hla (Minister for Military Affairs, 1997-2002). LID-22 was the unit responsible for the crackdown against the 1988 democracy uprising. In 1990 Soe Win served as the Tactical Operations Commander-3 of the North Western Command under Lieut-Gen Kyaw Min (Minister for Mines, 1995-2002). He then commanded the LID-66 (Prome) in 1995. He was promoted to Brig-General, commanded the North Western Command (Monywa) and became a member of the SPDC in 1997. Soe Win’s contemporaries in the DSA were: Lieut-Gen ‘Thiha-Thura’ Tin Aung Myint Oo, Quarter-Master-General; Maj-Gen Lun Maung, Inspector-General; and Col. Thein Nyunt, Minister for the Development of Border Areas.

To be continued

THE NEXT GENERATION - Shwe Mann, Ye Myint, Aung Htwe, Khin Maung Than, Maung Bo, Thein Sein, Tin Aung Myint Oo, Tin Aye and Kyaw Win.

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Sources: ABSDF, ADDB, Burma Fund, Irrawaddy, New Light of Myanmar, NCGUB, NDD, and Patriotic War Veterans of Burma.

End.