Myanmar’s military regime has placed former senior military leaders—including ex-dictator Than Shwe and former President Thein Sein—under surveillance, sources close to the matter said.
They confirmed that current junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has directed his security forces in Naypyitaw to monitor not only the retired senior leaders of the previous regime and the quasi-civilian government that followed it, but also members of their households.
Others under watch include the previous regime’s No. 2, Maung Aye, and Thura Shwe Mann, who was chief of the general staff of the Myanmar armed forces under the Than Shwe regime, which ruled Myanmar from 1992 until early 2011.
The Irrawaddy has learned they have been under watch since a few days after Thein Sein’s three-day trip to China in late June, during which he attended commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, the Chinese government’s foreign relations principles. He met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the event.
Following the trip, Channel News Asia reported that “a source told CNA that Wang had asked Thein Sein to persuade Min Aung Hlaing to hand over power and form an interim government to pave the way for elections.”
Thein Sein briefed Min Aung Hlaing after his China visit, local media reported.
Within 10 days of Thein Sein’s visit, China hosted General Soe Win, deputy chief of the State Administration Council (SAC—the junta’s formal name) and commander-in-chief of the army. Since then, speculation has been rife and rumors have swirled about the purpose and larger significance of the visits. Among the rumors are that Min Aung Hlaing will be removed and that a counter-coup is looming.
The sources said the former president’s trip may have raised suspicions among some leaders of the current regime, especially Min Aung Hlaing.
“Since then he no longer trusts anyone. He’s afraid of being removed,” a source said.
The new security arrangements came just days before the SAC announced that Min Aung Hlaing had assumed the position of Myanmar’s acting president. Critics said the move was unconstitutional, and it has raised anger and strong reactions among the public as well as in the pro-military camp.
In 2002, Than Shwe placed former Myanmar dictator and ex-general Ne Win under house arrest, along with his grandsons and his favorite daughter and son-in-law, on charges of attempting to stage a coup and split the armed forces.
