Myanmar: Out With the Old, In With

[darnott@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Asiaweek 
October 29, 1999 

Myanmar: Out With the Old, In With the Slightly Less Old? 

   It will soon be November, and that usually means it's leadership 
shuffle time in Myanmar. Savvy Yangon watchers, attuned to the 
art of reading the regime-controlled New Light of Myanmar, note
that the speeches of No. 2 leader, the nonsense head of the army 
Gen. Maung Aye, 61, have invariably been reported front and center 
recently. Those who track which general is up and which one is down
predict that the current No. 1 among equals, Gen. Than Shwe, will step 
down soon. At 66, he is past the official retirement age, and long hours 
and a hip operation may contribute to his decision to step aside and put 
golf first. Other changes? Watch the commerce, information and electric 
power ministries, all significant -- and all maladministered by inept military 
men well past their prime. 


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