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Southeast Asia
Myanmar Prime Minister under detention
2004-10-19
Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt has been placed under "protective custody" in what appears to be a purge of the country's much-feared Military Intelligence (MI), military sources said on Tuesday. Khin Nyunt, who is also MI chief, was put under custody on Monday.
Oh boy, a Deep Laid Plot!™
Plumb nefarious...
The ruling military regime recently launched a purge of the MI personnel that started in Muse, the Shan State. Several MI officers have been tried on corruption charges and summarily handed down prison terms of 20 years by military courts, sources in Yangon confirmed. Khin Nyunt, once deemed among the country's most powerful generals in determining foreign policy, was recently "kicked upstairs" to the post of prime minister. Senior General Than Shwe, the regime's head, has long had conflicts with Khin Nyunt. In neighbouring Thailand, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra confirmed he had heard rumours of a "conflict" within the Myanmar military. 
I love it when they eat their own.
Posted by:Steve White

#1  I used the Thai/Burma border crossings (approx 1 year ago) to renew my Thai visa several times - and I would bet that every 2nd or 3rd expat crossing, which cost 250 baht (about $5-$6 USD) for a Burma "day pass" (not a small amount there), was "lost" or "unrecorded" - that's the easiest place to snarf up hard currency without it showing up easily, so you know corruption abounds. There were 50-100 obvious Westerners doing this every day I did it. Thailand clamped down on this game starting about 7 months ago declaring the "quickie" 30-day visa game at border crossings must stop - it's why I left and came back to the US. Due to this, I'm sure there are Burmese military who've turned to more visible avenues of corruption - and are getting caught in greater numbers.
Posted by: .com   2004-10-19 3:31:17 AM  

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