Snr-Gen Than Shwe waves as he reviews troops during a military parade marking the country's 65th Armed Forces Day at a parade ground in Naypyidaw on March 27. (Photo: Getty Images)Burmese junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe and his deputy, Gen Maung Aye have resigned their military posts, along with six other top military officers, according to sources in Naypyidaw on Friday.
The eight top men will retain their government posts, however, the sources said. Than Shwe, 77, will continue to head the Burmese government, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
Than Shwe reportedly handed his position of commander-in-chief of the Burmese armed forces—which he has held since April 1992—to Lt-Gen Myint Aung, the army's adjutant general.
Maung Aye has similarly transferred the deputy commander-in-chief post to Lt-Gen Ko Ko, head of Chief of Bureau of Special Operation- 3, but remains the country's deputy head of state, the sources said.
Than Shwe is expected to remain head of state until at least the end of the 2011 fiscal year, when he would transfer his position to the elected president. The regime's third-ranking official, Gen Shwe Mann, is tipped to take this position.
Shwe Mann also quit his military position, as did the regime's No.4, Lt-Gen Tin Aung Myint Oo, and both will reportedly stand as candidates for the junta's largest proxy party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), in constituencies in Naypidaw.
The Associated Press reported on Friday that a dozen military officials resigned from the army, including Shwe Mann and Tin Aung Myint Oo.
Lt-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Chief of the Bureau of Special Operation (2), is to take over the army's joint-chief-of-staff position from Shwe Mann, the sources say. The regime's Prime Minister Thein Sein and several government ministers, who resigned from their military posts to lead the USDP, will reportedly renounce their government posts next month.
Beginning this week, all government ministers have been asked to leave their state-provided residences and assemble in Rangoon. An interim government is expected to be formed soon.
Several sources have reported these latest changes within the regime leadership, but details of the news which came shortly before the country's first election in 20 years remain sketchy. The Irrawaddy is still trying to confirm them.
The November election is viewed as an attempt by the regime to further entrench its control on power.
Observers say that if news of the changes at the top is confirmed, Than Shwe would be making a successful transfer of powers to his trustworthy military subordinates, proteges and cronies who would dominate Burma's future elected government and continue to call the shots from behind the scenes.
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Reshuffle in Regional Military Chiefs: Details
By THE IRRAWADDY
The regional military commanders affected in reshuffle have become chiefs of the Bureau of Special Operations (BSO) or other posts at the War Office.
Maj-Gen Yar Pyae, commander of Eastern Regional Military Command is reportedly reassigned with a promotion as BSO-1 chief, Maj-Gen Soe Win, commander of the Northern Regional Military Command as BSO-2 chief, Maj-Gen Myint Soe, commander of Northwestern Regional Military Command as BSO-3 chief, Maj-Gen Thet Naing Oo, commander of Southeast Regional Military Command as BSO-4 chief, Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe, commander of Central Regional Military Command as BSO-5 chief, and Maj-Gen Hla Min, commander of Southern Regional Military Command as BSO-6 chief.
The four regional commanders affected by the recent order of the office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) on Friday are Maj-Gen Kyaw Swe, the commander of Southwestern Regional Military Command, Maj-Gen Thaung Aye, the commander of Western Regional Military Command, Maj-Gen Hla Min, the commander of Southern Regional Military Command, Maj-Gen Khin Zaw Oo, the commander of Coastal Regional Military Command and Maj-Gen Win Myint of the Rangoon Regional Military Command.
According to sources, Brig-Gen Tin Maung Win, commander of the 22nd Light Infantry Division has replaced Kyaw Swe as commander of the Tatmadaw’s strategic Southwestern Command in the Irrawaddy Delta.
Brig-Gen Soe Htut, commander of the 88th Light Infantry Division has been ordered to replace Hla Min, while Brig-Gen Thein Win, commander of the 99th Light Infantry Division has become the new commander of the Costal Regional Military Command. Brig-Gen Tun Than, commander of the 77th Light Infantry Division has replaced Win Myint.
Brig-Gen Maung Maung Lay has been appointed as commander of Napyidaw Regional Military Command, while Brig-Gen Ye Aung has become commander of Central Regional Military Command.
Source:http://irrawaddy.org/highlight.php?art_id=19323&page=1
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