BURMA ALERT - No. 04/03

Vol.9, No.4 - 01 May 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 - II

The Next Generation.

SPDC MEMBER

Lieutenant-General 'Thura' Shwe Mann(BC.11534 – DSA.11). He is also -

  • Joint-Chief of Staff (Defense Service)
  • Chief-of-Staff (Army)

In the SPDC War Office hierarchy, the third most powerful position after Sr-Gen Than Shwe and Vice-Sr-Gen Maung Aye, is the newly created post of Joint-Chief of Staff (Defense Services) – ‘Tatmadaw Nyinaing Kutkaeyehmu’. The Navy and Air Force Commanders, the commanders of the four Bureau of Special Operations, and the Commander of the Rangoon Military Region also report to the Joint-Chief of Staff.

Shwe Mann is from Sagaing Division. In 1988 he was a major. In 1989, he commanded LIR-6 (Tainmyoke) under Col San Aung of LID-66. He was awarded the ‘Thura’ for bravery in action against the Karen National Union at Mae-Tha-Waw. He later became one of the Tactical Operations Commanders of LID-66 under Brig-General Aye Kyaw (Minister of Information, 1995-2002). In 1995, Shwe Mann was promoted Brigadier-General and commanded the elite LID-11 at Htauk-kyant. The best soldiers are reportedly transferred to LID-11, which is responsible for the security of the capital. The Commander of Yangon Military Region at that time was BG Khin Maung Than (see below). On 15 Nov 1997, Shwe Mann who was the Commander of the South-West Military Region in Bassein, was appointed a member of the SPDC. He was promoted to his current positions in late 2001. He is married to Daw Khin Lay Thet

Shwe Mann is in his mid-50's and is one year senior to SPDC Secretary-2 Lieut-Gen Soe Win. His contemporaries in the DSA were:

  • Rear-Admiral Soe Thein, Chief of Staff (Navy);
  • Major-General Myint Swe, former Commander-in-Chief (Air Force) who was implicated in the Ne Win grandchildren coup of March 2002;
  • BG Than Aung, Commander of ROC-Mong Hpayak, Shan State.

Shwe Mann is reportedly seen as a reformer who has the confidence and support of both his superior officers and subordinates. He is known for his good leadership skills - in both command and staff positions. He is commonly referred to as ‘Du-choke-Athit’ (new deputy commander), or ‘Ta-choke’ (Third commander). Observers believe he will eventually replace Than Shwe who also served in the LID-66 and commanded the South-West Military Region. Lieut-Gen Soe Win commanded LID-66 in 1995.

SPDC MEMBER

Lieutenant-General Ye Myint (BC.10310 OTS.31). He also commands-

  • Bureau of Special Operations No.1

BSO-1 of the War Office is responsible for ‘security, military, political, economic, and social tasks’ in

  • Kachin State,
  • Sagaing Division,
  • Mandalay Division,
  • Magwe Division, and
  • Chin State.

In 1988, Ye Myint served in the 59th BuRgt at Bawnatkyi (Southern Military Region). In 1992, he was the Tactical Operations Commander No.1 and then the Deputy Commander of LID-88 in Magwe under Brigadier-General Hla Myint Swe – BC.10289, the Minister of Transport. He commanded LID.101 and in 1994, he was promoted to Brig-General and became the Central Military Region Commander in Mandalay. In November 1997, he was promoted to the rank of Maj-Gen and appointed member of the SPDC. He is married to Dr Daw Tin Lin Myint.

Ye Myint is in his late 50’s. His contemporaries in Officer Training School were:

  • Lieut-General Khin Maung Than, BSO-3;
  • Lieut-General Maung Bo, BSO-4;
  • Colonel Aung Thaung – BC.10307, the Minister for Industry 1.

Note: Than Shwe also served in LID-88.

The following report to BSO-1:

  1. Northern MR, Myitkyina, Kachin State
  2. MOC-21, Bhamo Station, Kachin State
  3. ROC-Tanai, Kachin State,
  4. ROC-Putao, Kachin State,
  5. North-West MR, Monywa, Sagaing
  6. LID-33, Ywathaung, Sagaing Div
  7. MOC-3, Mogaung Station, Sagaing
  8. ROC-Kale, Sagaing Division
  9. Central MR, Mandalay
  10. LID-99, Meiktila, Mandalay Div
  11. MOC-6, Pyinmana Station, Mandalay
  12. MOC-10, Kyigone Station, Mandalay
  13. LID-88, Magwe, Magwe Division
  14. LID-101, Pakokku, Magwe Division.

SPDC MEMBER

Lieutenant-General Aung Htwe (BC.9752 OTS.29). He also commands-

  • Bureau of Special Operations No.2

BSO-2 is responsible for ‘security, military, political, economic, and social tasks’ in -

  • Kayah State (Karenni), and
  • Shan State.

In 1991, Aung Htwe was the Deputy Commander of the LID-88 in Magwe under Brigadier-General Hla Myint Swe – BC.10289, the Minister of Transport. In May 1992, Aung Htwe was promoted to Colonel and took over the command of the LID-55 in Aung Ban, Shan State. He was promoted to Brig-Gen and took over the command of the Western Military Region in An, Arakan State, in July 1995. He was promoted to Major-Gen and appointed a member of the SPDC in Nov 1997. He is married to Daw Khin Hnin Wai

Aung Htwe is in his late 50’s. His contemporaries in Officer Training School were:

  • Major-General Ket Sein, former Minister of Health (1995-2003);
  • Major-General Saw Tun, the current Minister of Construction;
  • Major-General Tin Htut, the Minister of Electric Energy; and
  • Brigadier-General Sein Htwa, the Minister of Immigration and for Social Welfare and Resettlement.

The following report to BSO-2:

  1. North-East MR, Lashio, Shan State
  2. MOC-1, Kyaukme Station, SS
  3. MOC-16, Hsenwi Station, Shan State
  4. ROC-Laukkai, Shan State
  5. Eastern MR, Taunggyi, Shan State
  6. LID-55, Aungban, Shan State
  7. MOC-2, Loilem Station, Shan State
  8. MOC-7, Pekon Station, Shan State
  9. MOC-14 Mong Hsat Station, SS
  10. MOC-17, Mong Pan Station, SS
  11. MOC-18, Hehalsai Station, Shan State
  12. Triangle MR, Kengtung, Shan State
  13. ROC-Mong Hpayak, Shan State
  14. ROC-Loikaw, Kayah State

SPDC MEMBER

Lieutenant-General Khin Maung Than (BC.10320, OTS.31). He also commands-

 

Bureau of Special Operations No.3

BSO-3 is responsible for ‘security, military, political, economic, and social tasks’ in -

  • Arakan State,
  • Bago Division, and
  • Irrawaddy Division.

In 1988, Khin Maung Than was a Lieut-Col commanding the 89th BuRgt at Kale (North-Western Military Region) under Brig-Gen Tun Kyi, one of the original SLORC members. In 1991, he was Colonel-General-Staff (Operations) at the War Office in Yangon under Brig-Gen Tin Oo, the then SLORC Secretary-2. In 1992, Khin Maung Than was promoted to command the elite LID-11 at Htauk-kyant which is responsible for the security of Yangon. The Commander of the Yangon Military Region at that time was Brig-Gen Myo Nyunt, one of the original SLORC members. In 1995, Khin Maung Than was promoted to Brig-Gen and became the Yangon Military Region Commander. He was reportedly hand-picked by Than Shwe. In 1997, he was promoted to the rank of Major-Gen and appointed to the SPDC. He is married to Daw Malar Tint

Khin Maung Than is in his late 50’s. His contemporaries in Officer Training School were:

  • Lieut-General, Ye Myint, BSO-1;
  • Lieut-General Maung Bo, BSO-4;
  • Colonel Aung Thaung – BC.10307, Minister for Industry 1 (1997-).

The following report to BSO-3:

  1. Southern MR, Toungoo, Bago Div
  2. LID-66, Inma, Bago Division
  3. LID-77, Bago, Bago Division
  4. ROC-Prome, Bago Division
  5. South Western MR, Bassein, Irrawaddy Division
  6. Western MR, An, Arakan State
  7. MOC-5, Taungup Station, Arakan
  8. MOC-9, Kyauktaw Station, Arakan
  9. MOC-15, Buthidaung Station, Arakan
  10. ROC-Sittwe, Arakan State

SPDC MEMBER

Lieutenant-General Maung Bo (BC.10337, OTS.31). He also commands-

  • Bureau of Special Operations No.4

BSO-4 is responsible for ‘security, military, political, economic, and social tasks’ in -

  • Mon State,
  • Karen State, and
  • Tenasserim Division.

In 1992, Maung Bo was a colonel and the Tactical Operations Commander–2 of the Northern Military Region in Myitkyina, Kachin State, under the command of Maj-Gen Kyaw Ba, one of the original SLORC members. Maung Bo served as Deputy Commander in the Northern MR (1993-97) under Brig-Gen Saw Lwin – BC.8677, Minister for Hotel and Tourism and under Brig-Gen Kyaw Win – BC.10194, the Training General. He commanded MOC-6 (Pyinmana) and in Nov 1997, he was promoted to Brig-Gen and became the Eastern Military Region Commander in Taunggyi, Shan State, and appointed a member of the SPDC.

Maung Bo is in his late 50’s. His contemporaries in Officer Training School were:

  • Lieut-General Ye Myint, BSO-1;
  • Lieut-General Khin Maung Than, BSO-3;
  • Colonel Aung Thaung – BC.10307, Minister for Industry 1 (1997-).

The following report to BSO-4:

  1. South-eastern MR, Moulmein, Mon
  2. LID-44, Thaton, Mon State
  3. MOC-19, Ye Station, Mon State
  4. LID-22, Pa-an, Karen State
  5. MOC-12, Kawkareik Station, Karen
  6. Coastal MR, Mergui, Tenasserim Div
  7. MOC-8, Tavoy Station, Tenasserim
  8. MOC-13, Bokpyin Station, Tenasserim
  9. MOC-20, Kawthaung Station, Tenasserim

SPDC MEMBER

Lieutenant-General Thein Sein (BC.11252, DSA.9). He is also the -

  • Adjutant-General, War Office

Thein Sein is the former Commander of MOC-4 (Phugyi) and the Triangle Military Region. He was appointed a member of the SPDC in Nov 1997. He is in his late 50's and is married to Daw Khin Khin Win.

SPDC MEMBER

Lieut-Gen 'Thiha Thura' Tin Aung Myint Oo (BC.11701 – DSA.12). Also -

  • Quarter-Master-General, War Office

In July 1995, Tin Aung Nyint Oo was a Brig-General commanding MOC-1 (Kyaukme Station). He became commander of the North-East Military Region in Lashio and was appointed a member of the SPDC in Nov 1997. Tin Aung Myint Oo is in his early 50's and is married to Daw Khin Saw Hnin.

SPDC MEMBER

Lieutenant-General Kyaw Win BC.10194 – OTS.30). He is also the -

  • Chief - Defense Service Training

Not to be confused with the Deputy Intelligence Chief, Kyaw Win in 1988 was the Tactical Operations Commander No.1 of the Eastern Military Region under Vice-Sr-Gen Maung Aye (BC.7875 – DSA.1). He commanded MOC-12 (Kawkereik) and in 1995, he commanded the Northern Military Region in Myitkyina. In Nov 1997, he was appointed a member of the SPDC. Kyaw Win is in his late 50's and is married to Daw San San Yee.

SPDC MEMBER

Lieutenant-General Tin Aye

(BC.11236, DSA.9). He is also the -

  • Director, Weapons Production General, War Office

As a Colonel in 1992, Tin Aye served as Deputy Commander of the South-East Military Region under Maj-Gen Soe Myint (BC.8642 - OTS.26). He then commanded MOC-4 (Phugyi) and was promoted to Brig-Gen and commanded the Southern Military Region (Toungoo). He was appointed a member of the SPDC in Nov.1997. Tin Aye is in his early 50's and is married to Daw Kyi Kyi Ohn.

NOTE:

Yangon Military Region commanded by Major-General Myint Swe (BC.12629, DSA.15) at Mingaladon, reports directly to the Joint-Chief of Staff. Other military units around the capital include:

  1. LID-11, Yemon, Yangon Division
  2. MOC-4, Phugyi, Yangon Division
  3. AOC.707, Kyaukpadaung
  4. AOC.808, Oktwin
  5. AOC.71 (Armour), Pyawbwe

ABBREVIATIONS

 

AOC = Artillery/Armoured Operations Command

BURGT = Burma Regiment – infantry battalion

LIB = Light Infantry Battalion – infantry battalion.

LID = Light Infantry Division – made up of 10 infantry battalions – LIRs or BURGT plus one field engineering and one signal company. Logistical support is provided by operations command.

LIR = Light Infantry Regiment – infantry battalion.

MOC = Military Operations Command were formed instead of LIDs to hide the expansion of the Army. They are larger than LIDs with 9-10 Infantry Battalions plus auxiliary battalions such as signal, engineering, supply, etc.

ROC = Regional Operations Command – smaller than a Tactical Operations Command.

MR = Each Military Region has 9 to 25 infantry battalions depending on the area covered and security risk. Each Region has a Signals, Engineering, Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, Medical, Supply & Transport, and Ordnance battalion, as well as a military police company and intelligence units.

Note: The full combat strength of a Burmese battalion today is only about 200 men.

Readers are invited to send in corrections, observations and updates. End