MILITARY JUNTA PREPARES FOR ELECTION
Published: 29/08/2010 at 04:11 AM
Newspaper section: News
RANGOON / A major reshuffle by Burma's ruling junta marks the biggest shift within the military in decades, with changes to more than 70 senior army officers' positions, an officer said yesterday.
News emerged from the country on Friday that some senior leaders, including army number three Thura Shwe Mann, had retired from their military posts to stand in the Nov 7 poll _ the first held in the country in two decades.
``More than 70 senior military officers' posts were changed. We can say that it's the biggest change within the military in decades,'' an army officer said.
``Our leaders have been planning for a long time to keep the military active with the new generation,'' he added.
Initial news reports on Friday said the junta chief Than Shwe _ who has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1992 _ and his number two Maung Aye had stepped down from the army, but this was denied by a government official.
An unnamed government officer close to the regime said yesterday that the 77-year-old and his deputy were ``likely to retire soon''.
``The order hasn't come out yet in paper though they have planned it,'' he said. ``It's likely to be after the election.''
The reshuffle was not officially announced by the media and state television was silent on the subject.
More:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...to-run-in-poll
