By MIN LWIN
The Irrawaddy News
A number of senior officers have been reassigned or retired following a belated quarterly meeting of Burma’s ruling military council in the capital Naypyidaw last week, according to military sources.
The junta’s top military leader, Snr-Gen Than Shwe, retired at least five lieutenant generals and promoted a number of senior military officers as a part of the largest military reshuffle in years.
According to military sources in Rangoon, the reshuffle involved about 150 senior officers, including four brigadier generals who have been promoted from jobs as rectors of military academies to positions as powerful regional military commanders.
A retired lieutenant colonel said that the decision to place well-educated brigadier generals in regional military command positions was probably part of Than Shwe’s preparations for a general election to be held in 2010.
The election will set the stage for a military-dominated civilian government, requiring more politically astute regional commanders, the retired lieutenant colonel said. “Than Shwe seeks regional military commanders he can trust and who have an awareness of politics and economics.” [JEG's: in order words preparing the junta to become more efficient :)))]
In late 2007, Brig-Gen Kyaw Swe, the former rector of the elite Defense Services Academy, was picked to lead the Southwest Military Command, in a move that was seen as part of an effort to replace battle-hardened military commanders with more knowledgeable leaders.
Rangoon-based military sources also said that the latest round of changes was calculated by Than Shwe to outmaneuver his deputy commander in chief, Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye.
“Junior officers cannot advance without the blessing of the top general, Than Shwe,” said Htay Aung, a Burmese researcher based in Thailand. “Last week’s reshuffle indicated that Than Shwe is still in control and has tightened his grip on power.”
A retired major from the Burmese Air Force told The Irrawaddy on Monday that Col Thein Naing, a son-in-law of Than Shwe, was among those who owed their promotions to close relations with the senior general. Thein Naing was named the new commanding officer at Rangoon’s Mingaladon Air Base.
Observers in Rangoon said that the position is one of considerable importance, as commanders at the base usually advance to the post of air force commander in chief.
Thein Naing replaces Brig-Gen Zin Yaw, who has been involved in the post-Cyclone Nargis relief effort.
The Burmese military government’s most senior generals, Than Shwe and Maung Aye, are unlikely to relinquish their posts at this time.
The two men have served in the junta since 1988, first in the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and then in the State Peace and Development Council, when that replaced SLORC in 1997.
No comments:
Post a Comment