Irrawaddy:Western Diplomats Dismiss Rangoon Coup Rumor


Western Diplomats Dismiss Rangoon Coup Rumor
By Shah Paung
August 24, 2005

Rumors that Burma's top leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe had been toppled
in a Rangoon coup were discounted on Wednesday by experienced
Burma-watchers and western diplomats in the Burmese capital.

The rumors began on Tuesday within the Burmese exile community and
spread rapidly in Rangoon, creating panic in financial and business
circles there. Many shops and currency transfer businesses closed, the
black market rate for the kyat rose from 1,150 to 1,180 to the dollar
and the price of gold jumped from 275,000 kyat to 280,000 kyat an
ounce.

Than Shwe is Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and
Commander in Chief of Burma's armed forces. There have been
persistent rumors of power struggles within the top leadership since
the removal last October of prime minister and military intelligence
chief Gen Khin Nyunt.

The rumors were reported by the international news agency Reuters,
while the Burmese service of the London-based BBC, citing an unnamed
source on the China-Burma border, said a decision to stage a coup had
been made by a group of five military leaders led by Deputy Snr-Gen
Maung Aye at a secret meeting in Rangoon.

Observers and western diplomats in Rangoon on Wednesday dismissed the
report as untrue, and said Rangoon was quiet, with no sign of any
increased military presence.

Than Shwe last appeared publicly on August 20 when, with other top
regime leaders, he met UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's special
envoy Ali Alatas in Rangoon.

Western diplomats said Than Shwe appeared to be in good health and
there was no sign of friction among the leaders. "He looks strong and
all of his subordinates acted obediently," said one.

.

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