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The BurmaNet News: November 16, 1998
Issue #1139
Noted in Passing: "Twenty-five percent of the seats in
the parliament will be given to representatives appointed by the
commander-in-chief of the defense services ... . If the military
is not involved in national affairs, there is no guarantee that
we will not have to go back to square one, fighting all the
ethnic groups again." - Lieutenant-Colonel Hla Min (see
XINHUA: MYANMAR ADMITS DRAFTING OF CONSTITUTION VERY SLOW)
HEADLINES:
MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE: INFORMATION SHEET NO.
A.0694(I)
15 November, 1998 from MYANPERSP@aol.com
[Information Sheets issued under the email addresses MYANPERSP@aol.com and OKKAR66129@aol.com match
those issued by the Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence
(DDSI) in Rangoon, and can be assumed to reflect official SPDC
opinion.]
Appointment, Reassignment And Retirement Announcement Made on 14
November 1998.
1. Appointment of Deputy Prime Minister
The State Peace and Development Council has appointed and
assigned duties
to Minister for Military Affairs Lt-Gen Tin Hla as Deputy Prime
Minister in
addition to the present duties.
2. Appointment of Ministers
(A) The State Peace and Development Council has appointed and
assigned duties to Maj-Gen Saw Lwin as Minister for Industry-2.
(B) The State Peace and Development Council has appointed and
assigned duties to U Win Aung as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
3. Reassignment of Ministers
The State Peace and Development Council has reassigned duties to
the following ministers as the ministers of the ministries shown
against each.
(1) Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe Office of the Prime Minister
(2) Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe Ministry of Transport
4. Permission to Retire From Duties
The State Peace and Development Council has permitted Minister
for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw to retire from duties.
5. Appointment of Deputy Ministers
The State Peace and Development Council has appointed and
assigned duties to the following persons as deputy
ministers of the ministries shown against each:-
(1) Brig-Gen Khin Maung Win Ministry of Defence
(2) Brig-Gen Than Tun Ministry of Industry-1
(3) Brig-Gen Win Sein Ministry of Labour
(4) U Pe Than Ministry of Transport
(5) Col Kyaw Hsan Ministry of Commerce
6. Permission to Retire from Duties of Deputy Ministers
The State Peace and Development Council has permitted the
following deputy ministers to retire from duties.
(1) Col Than Zin Ministry of Industry-1
(2) U Kyaw Aye Ministry of Labour
7. Appointment of Supreme Court Justices
The State Peace and Development Council has appointed and
assigned duties to the following persons as Supreme Court
Justices.
(1) U Than Oo
(2) U Khin Maung Latt
(3) U Khin Myint
(4) Dr Tin Aung Aye
8. Permission to Retire from Duties
The State Peace and Development Council has permitted the
following Supreme Court Justices to retire from duties:
(1) U Kyaw Win
(2) U Aung Myin
(3) U Than Pe
(4) U Tin Ohn
(5) U Tin Htut Naing
9. Appointment of Member of CSSTB
The State Peace and Development Council has reassigned duties to
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyunt Swe as member of the
Civil Service Selection and Training Board.
10. Appointment of Members of CSSTB
The State Peace and Development Council has assigned duties to
the following persons as members of the Civil Service Selection
and Training Board:
(1) U Aung Myint
(2) U Hla Myint Oo
(3) U Kaung Nyunt
11. Retirement from Duties of Members of CSSTB
The State Peace and Development Council has permitted the
following persons to retire from duties of the members of Civil
Service Selection and Training Board:
(1) U Tun Shwe
(2) U Aung Thein
(3) U Tin Hlaing
(4) U Shwe Than
(5) U Myo Swe
MIZZIMA NEWS GROUP: CABINET SHUFFLE IN BURMA
14 November, 1998
The Burmese government shuffles its ministers and deputy
ministers today with some of the important ministers
"resigned". Mr. Win Aung who was Ambassador to Britain
replaces the Foreign Minister Mr. Ohn Kyaw. Lt. Gen. Tin Ngwe,
former Minister of Transport was appointed as a new deputy Prime
Minister. The two deputy ministers who "were allowed"
to resign are Col. Than Zin, Mine Ministry and Mr. Kyaw Aye,
Labour Ministry. In six ministries, new deputy ministers were
appointed. These are Brig. Khin Maung win (Defence), Brig. Win
Sein (Labour), Mr. Pe Thein (Transport), Col. Kyaw San (Trade and
Commerce), and Brig. Than Tun (Industry No. 1). Maj. Gen. Saw
Lwin, former Hotels and Tourism Minister was appointed as new
Minister of Industry No. 2.
The cabinet shuffle came in the wake of a rumour spreading in
Rangoon that Burmese government is going to shuffle its cabinet
with new faces, mostly with civilians. However, today's shuffle
shows that there is a few new civilian people in the cabinet
although it is a big change in the government. Although the
reasons behind the changes are not known, the opposition groups
say that the military government is facing problems and it tries
to cope the internal problems with these changes. "Today's
cabinet shuffle shows that the SPDC is facing a general
crisis", said Dr. Tint Swe, South Asian Affairs Minister of
the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (the
exiled government). It is a surprise that the former Foreign
Minister Mr. Ohn Kyaw was kicked-out from the government. He has
been a leading campaigner on military regime's foreign policy
since it took over power in 1988. The change was so unexpected
that he was meeting with visiting Bangladesh Foreign Minister
yesterday in Rangoon.
A similar cabinet shuffle happened exactly one year ago.
Interestingly, the reshuffle came after the ruling military junta
formed a political committee headed by Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, the
country's intelligence chief on 18th September. The committee
consists of 16 top military leaders, believed to be close to Lt.
Gen. Khin Nyunt. He is known to be second most powerful in the
junta. The exiled opposition groups say that Khin Nyunt is
gaining upper hand in a power struggle inside the regime. The
exiled National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) in a
statement on 22nd September said, "by forming the political
committee, Khin Nyunt-led faction of the SPDC has managed to
strengthen itself, compared to the other members of the SPDC and
that Khin Nyunt aims at gaining political control of Burma".
Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt signed the statement of today's cabinet
shuffle.
The new deputy ministers and ministers are said to be close to
Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt. Apart from ministerial changes, Burmese
government changed the country's judiciary with four new Supreme
Court Justices..
REUTERS: MYANMAR CABINET CHANGES AIM TO POLISH IMAGE
15 November, 1998
YANGON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Myanmar has sought to improve its poor
image abroad with the appointment of a career diplomat as foreign
minister at the weekend, government sources said on Sunday. The
elevation of Myanmar's ambassador to Britain, Win Aung, to the
foreign ministership in Saturday's cabinet reshuffle marks a
government effort to ease long-standing pressure on
military-ruled Myanmar from Western nations, the sources said.
Win Aung, a diplomat for at least 10 years and former Myanmar
envoy to Germany, replaced Ohn Gyaw who retired after serving in
the post since the early 1990s.
``The change comes as Myanmar needs to improve its foreign
image,'' one government source said.
``Win Aung is a man capable of playing an active role and taking
initiatives. We don't know if Myanmar foreign policy will change
but it will be conducted in a different style.''
Ohn Gyaw was regarded as a conservative in the government, which
is criticised by the international community for its human rights
record and heavy-handed treatment of opposition political
activities.
``It cannot be because of his age. There are many as old as him
in the cabinet,'' the source said. Win Aung is aged 54.
The surprise reshuffle included the addition of a third deputy
prime minister, Lieutenant General Tin Hla, who would continue to
serve as minister of military affairs. Tin Hla has overseen the
military's interest in two local banks, various businesses as
well as industrial joint ventures partly owned by the army. The
reshuffle did not affect Deputy Prime Minister Tin Tun, 68, who
is expected to retire soon because of frail health. Lieutenant
General Tin Ngwe was named Minister of the Prime Minister's
Office, and former Minister of Industry-2 Hla Myint Swe became
new transport minister.
Four new deputy ministers and four supreme court judges were also
named to succeed retiring senior colleagues. Government sources
said they regarded new Foreign Minister Win Aung as a rising
star, partly due to his close ties to Lieutenant General Khin
Nyunt, the powerful Secretary One of the ruling State Peace and
Development Council.
``It is good that a person who has to implement the policy is
close to the person who lays down the policy,'' a political
analyst said.
Win Aung has occasionally contributed articles to state-run
newspapers under a pseudonym to express his political and foreign
policy views, the government sources said. As ambassador to
Britain, he had the tough job of maintaining relations with
London as it tried to force Myanmar out of the International
Labour Organisation and discouraged Britons from visiting
Myanmar, the sources said.
THE NATION: BURMESE JUNTA'S ANTI-SUU KYI RALLIES MAY
LEAD TO DEPORTATION
14 November, 1998 by Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe
THE RALLIES STAGE-MANAGED BY THE BURMESE JUNTA HAVE A SERIOUS
SIGNIFICANCE.
THEY ARE PART OF THE AGENDA LEADING TO SUU KYI'S DEPORTATION,
WRITES
CHAO-TZANG YAWNGHWE.
MONTREAL - The Burmese junta has embarked on a 'mass campaign' to
denounce Aung San Suu Kyi. The mass rallies held throughout the
country can be judged as geared toward achieving several
objectives. The most obvious aim is to convince the outside world
that the people have turned against the popular daughter of Gen
Aung San, a man widely regarded as the "father" of both
Burma's independence and the armed forces, the tatmadaw.
The 'mass' rallies serve another more important purpose, however.
They are meant to convince undecided or wavering elements within
the military that sticking with the junta is their best bet on
the ground that the junta is supported t by the mass of the
people, or obversely, that the 'masses' has deserted Aung San Suu
Kyi. The ruling generals are reportedly very nervous about
rumours that the majority of officers below the rank of major are
in favour of transferring power to a civilian government headed
by Suu Kyi, or that they secretly sympathise with her.
The anti-Suu Kyi rallies are orchestrated mainly by the
military-sponsored quasi-political body, the USDA (Union
Solidarity and Development Association). The 'grand patron' of
the Usda is reported to be a man who earned the nickname, the
'Butcher of Rangoon', Sein Lwin, who was also appointed the
country's president by Ne Win in late July I988 (and was forced
to resign due to continuing protest rallies in early August. Sein
Lwin's hlonhtein or riot squad was responsible for the brutal
crushing of students demonstrators in June). The core cadres of
the Usda comprises of 'thuggish elements' indoctrinated with a
racist-like variety of Burman ultranationalism, one based on the
myth that the Burmans are a superior conquering race. Informed
sources in Rangoon say that Sein Lwin is also the mentor of, and
personally close to General Maung Aye, regarded as head of the
hardline faction and rival of, tentatively, the current
'strongman' (more or less), Gen Khin Nyunt. The rallies are
well-planned. Before each rally, the military designates several
people as supporting speakers. Rehearsals supervised by local
Usda bosses and cadres are held prior to the actual rallies.
Everyone is 'forced to participate'. Besides, for many villagers
attending rallies is less arduous than "hewing wood and
carrying water" for soldiers, a chore which they are coerced
into on a regular basis. The theme running through these rallies,
calling for the deportation, by force if necessary, of Daw Suu
Kyi, has very much worried leaders of the democratic opposition,
based on the Thai-Burma border and in Burmese communities
overseas. They fear that once she is evicted from the country,
the people inside will be so demoralised that the flame of
resistance and hope will be extinguished. Her presence inside the
country is seen as vital. Many foreign experts on politics in
Burma also agree that her removal from the country would
strengthen the military's position immeasurably, and would in all
likelihood also boost Khin Nyunt's position and his chance of
becoming the second Ne Win.
However, although the forcible deportation of Suu Kyi is viewed
by the ruling generals as desirable, and might well be most
advantageous, sources close to the military report that the
generals are nervous about manhandling 'The Lady' on board an
outbound flight. Firstly, they fear international complications
that could arise from such a blatant use of force. Secondly, they
are not sure of how younger officers would react to her forcible
deportation. It might be the last straw that breaks the camel's
back. From the perspective therefore of intra-military politics,
the stage-managed rallies must be seen as the attempt by the
junta to convince officers below the rank of major that the
deportation of Suu Kyi, by force if necessary, is a measure
forced upon the junta by the people.
The rallies are therefore not meaning less as rallies during the
pre-1988 military socialist years were. They are very significant
in the sense that they are geared to a specific end the
deportation of Suu Kyi, by force if necessary. The forcible
eviction of Daw Suu Kyi from Burma would appreciably strengthen
the hand of the military junta, but whether this will come to
pass will very much depends on how convinced elements within the
military, especially younger officers, are that this is the wish
of the people.
AP: SUU KYI, MYANMAR RULER TRADE BARBS
13 November, 1998
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi
and the leader of the military regime that has frustrated her
drive to bring more democracy to Myanmar traded barbs Friday as
each marked National Day. The holiday commemorates the first
boycott by university students 78 years ago against British
colonial rule, a watershed in the independence struggle of
Myanmar, also known as Burma. Sen. Gen. Than Shwe, chairman of
the ruling State Peace and Development Council, accused Suu Kyi
and her party of trying to undermine the country.
``It will be seen that, organizing on the pretexts of democracy
and human rights, they are violating numerous laws and
perpetrating instigations to create anarchy,'' Than Shwe said in
a statement published by official newspapers.
Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition National League for Democracy,
told about 300 supporters at party headquarters that the past 36
years of military rule had lowered educational standards far
below what they were during the British period. Party members
cited her as saying that only the emergence of a democratic
system would guarantee a modern and advanced educational system
in the country. Universities have been closed for two years
following unrest by students demanding more civil liberties.
Students have traditionally been a driving force for political
change in the country.
They formed a large number of the estimated 3,000 people killed
nationwide when the military cracked down on months of protests.
Suu Kyi, 52, daughter of independence hero Aung San, was
propelled to the forefront of Myanmar's pro-democracy struggle by
the unrest. She has been under house arrest or other restrictions
for the past decade.
COMMUNICATION CENTER NEW DELHI (NCGUB): TOWNSHIP
SECURITY FORMED
13 November, 1998
The SPDC has recently issued an order, which is secret as the
status of instruction. Since September first week, all Township
PDCs have to constitute the security committees in every
township. The committees were assigned for protection of the law
and order and handling the emergency matters in the respective
Townships. The format of a township security supervising
committee is as follow:
Chairman of
TPDC
Chairman
Secretary of
TPDC
Member
A member of
TPDC
Member
Township
Justice
Member
Township law
Officer
Member
Municipal
officer
Member
Fire brigade
Officer
Member
Medical officer
Member
Red-cross
officer
Member
USDA
officer
Member
Police
officer
Secretary
The committee was instructed:
1. To work full time at the township PDC office,
2. To inform all important developments to District, Division and
State Peace and Development Councils immediately, and
3. To seek the help of police and armed forces to take necessary
measures in accordance with laws to combat those activities.
XINHUA: MYANMAR ADMITS DRAFTING OF CONSTITUTION VERY
SLOW
13 November, 1998
YANGON (Nov. 13) XINHUA - The Myanmar government has admitted
that the pace of drafting the new constitution is very slow, but
said it dares not to impose a deadline, according to an official
information document issued here Friday. These remarks were made
by Lieutenant-Colonel Hla Min, general staff officer of the
Bureau of Strategic Studies of the Myanmar Defense Ministry, in
an interview with a reporter of the Asian Wall Street Journal
recently. He said that Myanmar is working on the most sensitive
and serious chapter, which is the sharing of power between the
central government and the states and divisions. Myanmar began
the National Convention process in January 1993 to draft a new
state constitution. On the issue of when another parliamentary
election will be held, Hla Min quoted Senior-General Than Shwe,
chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council, as
saying that "once we resolve power-sharing, it will take
about three years to finish elections and everything,"
indicating that the last 1990 multi-party general election
becomes invalid.
Asked whether former Indonesian president Soeharto's downfall in
May alters Myanmar's interest in an Indonesia political model, he
denied that Myanmar is carbon-copying the Indonesian
constitution. "Twenty-five percent of the seats in the
parliament will be given to representatives appointed by the
commander-in-chief of the defense services," he said.
He stressed, "If the military is not involved in national
affairs, there is no guarantee that we will not have to go back
to square one, fighting all the ethnic groups again."
RADIO FREE BURMA: WHY KHIN NYUNT TERMINATED OHN GYAW
15 November, 1998 from < rfb@fast.net.au
>
First Burmese Language Internet Radio in the World
Dear friends, The 15 November 98 program of Radio Free Burma is
available now. You can listen either Radio Free Burma page http://www.fast.net.au/rfb
or http://users.imagiware.com/wtongue/
of the Radio Free Burma originally on 2NBC in Australia, is now
available for real-time playback via Real Audio. This is a
Burmese-language program featuring Burma news, U Thaung's
article, views and music of Burma presented by Burmese now living
in Australia. It will be appreciated any suggestion about
program, Please sends E-mail to ( rfb@fast.net.au )Many thanks to
Mr Wrightson Tongue ,Burma Net and all listeners. Radio Free
Burma www.fast.net.au/rfb
.