Than Shwe Confounds His Peers

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

by Wai Moe

---

Burma's military despot Snr-Gen Than Shwe surprised and confused his fellow generals at a four-monthly military commanders' meeting in Naypyidaw by ignoring pressing political issues and instead devoting his speech to the development of the country's economy in the post-election era, according to military sources in the capital.

Than Shwe reportedly told his fellow generals at the meeting on Nov. 23-28 that Burma is ready for a new government in line with his vision of a “disciplined democracy,” and addressed numerous economic developments and projects for the future.

A source who provided The Irrawaddy with a document on Friday analyzing the proceedings at the closed-door meeting said regional commanders and top-ranking generals were caught off-guard by the dictator's lofty aspirations and apparent far-sightedness, because he normally dwells on petty internal matters, and methods of quelling political dissent and securing power.

Than Shwe instead spoke of establishing solid business foundations in the country in the post-election period, of developing Burma's human resources and of the state's responsibility to promote a solid middle-class in the country.

During the meeting, sources say Than Shwe spoke confidently about the development of the national economy and effused about the prospects of billions of dollars in investment from China, referring to the Sino-Burmese oil-gas pipeline projects and the development of the Kyaukpyu deep sea port off the Arakan coast and related railway systems.

At the meeting, he apparently advocated expanding industry, especially factories related to oil and gas exploration and production. He also alluded to the Dawei deep sea port project in southern Burma, spoke of expanding the shipping industry and services sector, and predicted the Burmese economy would soon be “booming,” the source said.

The military dictator reportedly went on to pledge that Burma will furthermore be immune from electricity shortages because the country's hydroelectric projects would soon produce some 16,000 MW of power per year.

According to the military sources, the fact that Than Shwe did not address the upcoming election and pending political concerns, such as Aung San Suu Kyi's request for a meeting, suggests he is confident that his current strategy is working and that events are playing out in his favor.