Than Shwe—Man in the Iron Mask
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In 1985, Than Shwe became deputy commander-in-chief of the army and deputy defense minister. Three years later he became deputy chairman of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council, or SLORC, which replaced the BSPP. Then in 1992 he became chairman of the new ruling State Peace and Development Council, or SPDC.
There is no record of his ever traveling to a western country. Now, he would not be allowed to go even if he wanted to. Than Shwe and other high ranking officials in the regime face visa bans imposed by western countries.
After his appointment as leader, Than Shwe held a series of secret cabinet meetings. They were known as nya kyaung, or night school, because they took place at night. Than Shwe, of course, was “headmaster.” At these meetings, the general reportedly made careful and calculated policy decisions about the course of the country and the armed forces. Some generals who attend the nya kyaung now hold senior jobs with the junta. For instance, Lt-Gen Thein Sein, now SPDC’s Secretary One, and Lt-Gen Khin Maung Than, a senior SPDC member and a leading official in the Defense Ministry, were among those who regularly showed up at Than Shwe’s night school in the early 1990s.
He is married to an ethnic Pa-O, Daw Kyaing Kyaing. Many friends who knew them in the 1980s recall that Than Shwe’s family were unusually modest at the time. Like many other superstitious generals— particularly Ne Win—and their families, Than Shwe and his wife are known to seek advice from astrologers and monks. Unlike Ne Win’s family, Than Shwe’s sons and daughters have not been actively involved in big business.
However, Than Shwe’s son, Kyaing San Shwe, and his wife are known to dabble in business. They run the Classic International Company, involved in construction and making iron grills. The son is also thought to be involved in the illegal gambling business.
The Than Shwe family is also well connected with a young Burmese tycoon, Te Za (sometimes written Teza). The businessman, 40, is President and Managing Director of Htoo Trading Company, a major player in
Since 1993, he has also been involved in the arms industry. His Myanmar Avia Export is the country’s sole representative of
Than Shwe’s eldest daughter is also the talk of the town as Te Za’s apparent girlfriend. And Te Za is supposed to have arranged
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Than Shwe and his wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing pose in front of a Buddhist shrine near Patna, during a visit to India in October 2004 |
Although one of Than Shwe’s main reasons for removing Khin Nyunt was his alleged corruption, he has turned a blind eye to close allies considered unusually wealthy.
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