BDD
Controversial issue of Burma army is still unknown.
When SLORC took control a power, indeed, confrontation between NLD led people movement and newly army led SLORC was obvious. However, late senior general Saw Maung had a different idea, former military official told.
Late senior general Saw Maung sincerely announced the existing SLORC will end soon after 1990 election, regardless of who would win. His 1989 Armed Forces Day’s message cleared the Burmese people; soldiers are going back to barracks, he didn’t have any intention to stay in a power any longer and he claimed that soldiers saved the chaotic situations.
“He knew others generals were unhappy with his speech during these days. Late general Tin Oo, spy chief general Khin Nyunt and his late night discussions at the War Office could tell something was going on these days. At the end, he was announced that he was stepping down from chairman of SLORC and commander in chief. Something was totally wrong.” A former DSA graduate stressed.
“As far as I know general Tun Kyi of central command would be deputy commander in chief and not senior general Than Shwe.” general Tun Kyi was called to Rangoon and later Tun Kyi was canceled the trip before Saw Maung forced to step down.
Two groups continued something secret discussion and planned to remove Saw Maung; General Ne Win’s camp and group of regional commanders. Perhaps, spy chief Khin Nyunt was a key player to end general Saw Maung with the help of Than Shwe.
During these days, a key enemy of the SLORC became general Saw Maung; a soldier who knew only how to defend the country turned a coup leader and handled the worst situation of social and political, indeed, economical crisis he faced. Turned himself as heavy drinker even during his regular office hour and at the same time he read so many religious books to improve his image within SLORC.
His intention was simple; SLORC should not be too long, thus he asked each general to oversee few ministries and proved that no intention to stay longer. He reportedly warned other generals that he was willing to handover a power to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi if SLORC’s performance doing not well.
However, he had a huge pressure from late general Ne Win, Khin Nyunt and of cause from different regional commanders as well as NLD and students.
He stupidly believed that Burmese communist soldiers penetrated urban areas even in Rangoon. He expressed Communist stronghold area of Sino-Burma border extended into Rangoon before 1988 during his visit to Mandalay after coup. One point he refused to accept the accusation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as a communist, she was accused of Western puppet and was a communist mole. He yielded at others, “don’t you think I am a fool before the people if I say communist and Western puppet of her”
He was very easy going type and become a commander in chief in mid 1980s; he has only intention is to get a retirement when he would.
But, he wrongly interpreted late Ne Win’s tricks; Ne Win reportedly advised him that when and if NLD or NUP would win, our soldiers must go back to the barracks eve of his speech. He echoed late Ne Win’s political trick.
Other SLORC generals had to do alternative plan; ending general Saw Maung’s position, before they had to kill him, they had to excuse that he was mentally unfit for chairman of SLORC.
Dream of late general Saw Maung and hope of Burmese people have gone.
