Narinjara News

Senior General Than Shwe and a large entourage visited Arakan State

Akyab, Dec 5: Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, Senior General Than Shwe, made a trip to Arakan state along with a large number of his cabinet members on November 29th after the sacking of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt, said a report.

 This time his trip was very different from previous visits to Arakan State because he was followed by a large entourage, including secretary Lt-Gen Thein Sein, SPDC members Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myin Oo, Lt-Gen Kyaw Win, over twenty Ministers, and two commanders-in-chief of the Navy and Air Force.

“It was likely to show his strength to the Arakanese people and it’s thus (army men) ”said a teacher from Akyab told Narinjara yesterday.

The Senior General received a red carpet welcome at Akyab airport by government officials, well-known townspeople and an Arakanese traditional royal drum troupe, a that big surprise for the people.

A local witness said, “In the Senior General's previous trips to Arakan State, the red carpet had not been used to welcome him at the airport because they were domestic trips.”

Now, the red carpet was used, just as in past ceremonies for the royal family and previous Burmese kings, said the teacher. 

When the Senior General and his party visited places of scenic beauty in Akyab by car, the townspeople were forced to come out to the roadside to cordially greet Senior General Than Shwe.

In the late evening, he visited Lawkanada Pagoda, know as "trouble pagoda" because of the large number of forced labourers used by the government, and offered flowers, candles, and water to the Buddha image.

He also visited the Aung Setkya Muni Ordination Hall, which has a Buddha image in cast metal and 108 sacred symbols, and paid homage to the Buddha image there, said a report.

The former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt also visited Arakan State in order to avert an impending event or to bring about what one desires, soon after he became Prime Minister, a astrologer said.

But Khin Nyunt's position as Prime Minister only lasted for a year.#

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