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Than Shwe threatens coup d'etat
Irrawaddy - January 24, 2011
Wai Moe – Snr-Gen Than Shwe reportedly reminded military commanders that they must be prepared to launch a coup d'etat if the incoming Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) fails to meet the country's needs.
Military sources told The Irrawaddy that the junta strongman made the remark while chairing the last of his four-monthly meetings with military commanders and government ministers ahead of the opening of Burma's parliament.
The sources said that the series of meetings began last week and are continuing. Like previous meetings, Than Shwe and the leading generals from the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) were scheduled to sit with members of the military council and key military commanders of the Tatmadaw (Burmese armed forces) before a separate meeting with government ministers.
Sources speculate that since these four-monthly meetings are used by Than Shwe to define the power structure within Burma's military hierarchy, he is expected to take this opportunity to outline the division of power between the two "backbones" of future military rule – the Tatmadaw and the incoming USDP, a proxy political party backed by the junta.
During the meeting with military commanders, Than Shwe reportedly talked about imminent issues such as the new government and parliament, security, state development projects, the responsibilities of the new commanders, tensions with ethnic armed groups, as well as the status of the dissident movement in the wake of the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
A notable comment by Than Shwe at the meeting was to define the Tatmadaw's role in the coming years within the new parliament, military sources said.
Than Shwe reportedly told his commanders that the Tatmadaw must only work for "the sake of the nation and people," and not for a particular political party. He reportedly added that the Tatmadaw must be ready to launch a coup d'etat if the USDP "fails to fulfill the nation and the people's needs."
"He [Than Shwe] is playing at divide and rule between the lion and the army," said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, referring to the USDP as the lion due to its logo.
Although not represented in such high numbers in parliament as the military and the USDP, the other factor that Than Shwe is counting on is his network of business cronies who have secured and will continue to dominate the country's economic resources.
Observers said that through the three arms of his power – the military, the USDP and business cronies – Than Shwe believes he can reign indefinitely.
The sources said that ahead of the opening session of parliament on Jan. 31, the talk of the town in the military-ruled nation is who will be chosen as president.
"Some businessmen are betting each other on who will be the president," said a Rangoon-based businessman. "The money is on either Than Shwe or his close aide, Shwe Mann."
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