BDD
Regardless of different assumptions and rumors, vice senior general Maung Aye reportedly controls few important decision making mechanism and he orders the top generals to report him directly instead of senior general Than Shwe. Burmese army close watchers said vice senior general's intention is to block general Shwe Mann from a new commander in chief of Burma army in the future.
Among the generals who were aware the rising power of Maung Aye and they seemed to accept his leadership in SPDC if Than Shwe's time would be over. But, one noted that Maung Aye is only a soldier and never interested in controlling the country or maintaining the political position. He needs someone who leads the country if he doesn’t have alternative but not general Shwe Mann as next in line.
Coincidently, general Shwe Mann becomes an issue within the military council, complaining his decision over Post Cyclone Nargis issue, his two sons' businesses are being watched and unusual protection of businessmen by Shwe Mann's news is in the air in Rangoon elite society.
General Than Shwe's health issue and general Maung Aye's recent power show off came out almost the same time. These assumptions and alarming come to the surface after senior general's length of missing from the public scene. But, MRTV showed while he was sending off Maung Aye whose official visit to Bangladesh last week.
Sources close to the generals said senior general Than Shwe real occupation is to expose himself on TV and newspapers if rumors of failing health and palace coup came out. But Than Shwe has abandoned his favorite function of inspecting new roads and bridges since 2004. He normally brags length of roads (how many miles his SPDC has built) and how many bridges have been constructed during the period of SPDC's time.
Well-informed sources said "his wife has been in the bed for long time, a business community who normally doing a business with first family. After Saffron Revolution, she was getting series of illnesses off and on".
Regardless of general Maung Aye having more power and control most of the key decisions, however, super hardliners are still demonstrating anti-NLD, upcoming election preparation and other day to day political suppressive actions. Interestingly, his in-laws, U Aung Thaung is the worst hardliners in the SPDC but no one claimed that general Maung Aye and U Aung Thaung having conspiracy to control the power. U Aung Thaung is closer to senior general and not many accused that both general Maung aye and U Aung Thaung are working for another power dynasty.
"Basic needs for power building within SPDC and preparation of pre-2010 election seemed increasing" source said. Whole SPDC military council has been busy with grouping, searching for a new leadership, defending possible transferring from the key posts and refusing a normal business ties with elites are obvious issues.
One's rising power is always searching other mistakes. "However, unlike former general Khin Nyunt's investigative mechanism, security agencies of police SB or Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI) functions have been obviously seen in this process", Rangoon base businessman stressed.
