Amid the jubilant scenes of political dissidents walking free from prisons across Burma, the release of former premier Khin Nyunt is somewhat more controversial.
Behind closed doors in Naypyidaw, several discussions have taken place among government officials on how to handle this delicate matter. Many feel that dropping the condition of house arrest on the former prime minister is dangerous—like opening a Pandora's box. After all, they say, the ex-spy chief still holds official dossiers and can recount the full extent of corruption and abuses of power among top ministers from during his time in office.
The ex-general was known to be highly ambitious and one of the architects of Burma's political “Road Map.” He was the protégé of late dictator Gen Ne Win and named Secretary one at the ruling council soon after a bloody coup in September 1988. But controversy was never far behind him: he and his subordinates were accused of creating anarchy in order to pave the way for the army to take power in 1988. In October 2004, Khin Nyunt was purged in a power struggle between intelligence and infantry units.
Now in his 70s, Khin Nyunt is believed to have secured and hid official dossiers which detail gathered intelligence on other top officials and ministers. It was his intelligence units that were responsible for arresting and detaining dissidents, and it was through the offices of Khin Nyunt, Snr-Gen Than Shwe and Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye that orders were dispatched to crack down violently on the pro-democracy movement.
During his heyday Khin Nyunt was seen as close to China and was the main architect of the regime's foreign policy. He also took a personal interest in creating public relations exercises to placate Western nations and Asean.
That's why his release was received with mixed blessings among most Burmese people, and with a sense of trepidation among the government and the military. Khin Nyunt will have to prove quickly and publicly that he has no desire to rock the boat.
To appease President Thein Sein and his allies' concerns about Khin Nyunt and his secret files, authorities pinned Article 401 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code to his release. This article states that if a person released from prison does not fulfill his conditions in the opinion of the president, then “the President of the Union may cancel the suspension or remission” and the person in question can be re-arrested and “remanded to complete the un-expired portion of the sentence.”
This ensures that the former general—who had been serving a 44-year suspended sentence inside his own home—keeps quiet. He is forbidden from making any remarks other than to say that he supports the government and Aung San Suu Kyi.
Several of his former colleagues and retired senior leaders went to greet him as he walked out his elegant residence for the first time in seven years. Khin Nyunt looked fit, but when asked by reporters whether he harbored an interest in returning to politics, he indicated firmly that he had washed his hands of the whole business.
He received friends and allies who had once served in the ruling council and in the military. They were retired now. He also invited a famous monk from Sittwe into his house to offer a blessing.
Among the guests last week were several film producers and the comedian Zarganar, which quickly prompted a rumor that they were planning to shoot a film about the former premier.
To the amusement of many of the reporters present, Khin Nyunt stated that he wished that the press in Burma would enjoy more freedom—the irony being, of course, that under his rule, the official censorship board was one of the most repressive in history.
It can be assumed that Thein Sein pondered carefully before releasing Khin Nyunt as the amnesty did not include several of his key allies from the intelligence services. Brig-Gen Thein Swe and Brig-Gen Than Tun were two of those not freed.
Speaking to the media outside his house, Khin Nyunt expressed sadness that his subordinates remained behind bars. But then again, perhaps that was the price he was forced to pay.
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