Re: To Burmese Freedom Fighters-"Than Shwe in tight race with Thaksin to lose powera' bu MYint Thein.


His name is Eric John, not Johns - never trust what you read in the US
press, even the Harvard Gazette!

Both the US and China have a common interest in promoting peace and
stability in Burma. But the Chinese will do it their way, not the American
way which - as Iraq and Afghanistan have shown - can be quite disastrous for
the local populations.

The real struggle in Burma is not about freedom and democracy, however
desirable they are. It is to resolve the ethnic cauldron of nationalities
which bubbles relentlessly. We have seen in Iraq how the struggle for
freedom and democracy has exacerbated Shia v. Sunni rivalry which now
threatens to engulf Iraq in civil war, in which only fundamentalist forces
are likely to benefit.

Whether Than Shwe stays or goes is of no importance. Ne Win came, and went.
So did Saw Maung. So did Khin Nyunt, and several other senior generals. The
"Night of the Long Knives" is part and parcel of the political process in
every country, not least in Britain - witness the exit of Mrs Thatcher. It
is the very essence of politics. Just look at what is happening today in
"democratic" Thailand and the Philippines. Ne Win, Saw Maung, Khin Nyunt and
the rest were all allowed, in the end, to retire gracefully. So will Than
Shwe and Maung Aye.

Derek


"Kyin Ho" <kyinho@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1141011042.476183.41230@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To : Burmese Freedom Fighters
From : Myint Thein, Senior Advisor to the Burmese Resistance
Date : February 25, 2006
Re : Than Shwe in tight race with Thaksin to lose power.

Than Shwe is now supported by only four of the twelve Regional
Commanders. Than Shwe's protege, Lt. General Myint Swe, lost both
his positions as Rangoon Commander and Chief of Military Affairs
Security. Than Shwe is now in a tight race with Thai PM Thaksin to
lose power.

NLD has made significant concessions because a deal is in the
works with one faction in the Burma Army. Eric Johns, deputy
assistant secretary of state, recently stated at a seminar at Harvard
University on February 17, 2006 that the United States is actively
engaged with China and asking them to play a constructive role in
Burma, like they did to resolve the Cambodian Crisis. These private
understandings have not yet been made public.

In 1963, President Dr. Maung Maung was completing his two year
assignment at Yale University when I began my studies at Yale
College. Dr. Maung Maung's son is now the Deputy Foreign Minister
and Dr. Maung Maung's military aide is now the Finance Minister.
They are not thugs like Than Shwe, and are acceptable candidates
for service in a coalition transition government.

It is in Burma's national interest that lunatic Than Shwe be "retired"
in the very near future like General Saw Maung.


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