Seasoned lookouts suspicious of latest Rangoon flap

Seasoned lookouts suspicious of latest Rangoon flap

A number of border watchers told S.H.A.N. they had yet to make up their minds about the current uproar in Rangoon following the coup attempt announcement made by the military authorities' spokesman, Maj Gen Kyaw Win.

"All the top three have been where they are because of 'the Old Man'," said an intelligence officer in Chiangmai. "The whole affair could have been handled quietly. Now they are going out of their way to wash their linen in public, not only once but twice within a week."

Maj Gen Kyaw Win, deputy to Lt-Gen Kyaw Win held a 15 minute press conference, 1400 - 1415, on 9 March, two days after the arrest of retired strongman's son-in-law and grandsons. Another press conference was held 3 days afterwards, when it was disclosed Sandar Win, Ne Win's daughter, played a key role in the conspiracy.

A Shan businessman in Tachilek also remarked that the regime really had surprised everybody. "Had they been tight-lipped like when (Lt-Gen) Tin Oo was killed in a helicopter crash and (Lt-Generals) Win Myint and Tin Hla were sacked last year, we could at least have understood," he said.

Reuters reported that foreign diplomats in Rangoon were equally skeptical whether a coup was being planned at all.

Meanwhile, Thailand's northern border is reported quiet apart from a whirlwind visit made by Maj Gen Aung Htwe, who oversees the three regional commands in Shan State, earlier in the week to eastern Shan State, whose commander, the newly-appointed Chit Than, was ousted along with three other top officers.