Grandson’s Lavish Party Foretells Future of Than Shwe
By The Irrawaddy
June 22, 2007—Than Shwe’s favorite grandson enjoyed a lavish birthday party in late May that still has people in Burma asking about the guests of honor, how much money was spent and, of course, the unusual color of the birthday boy’s traditional Burmese jacket.
Nay Shwe Thway Aung, who just passed the 10th standard in school, turned 16, and he plans to continue his studies in Singapore, where he often accompanies his family for shopping trips. He is also reportedly a member of the Lamborghini Club in the Lion City.
The birthday festivities were held at the Sedona Hotel and featured several familiar faces—Zaw Zaw, a well-known businessman, the popular rock musician Zaw Win Htut, the wives of top junta leaders and Nay Shwe Thway Aung’s selected close friends.
The wives of Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye and Brig-Gen Thura Shwe Mann were among the invited guests and can be seen in photos mingling with other well-wishers at the party. Perhaps they felt that if they neglected to pay their respects, their husbands would probably have no need to go to the office the next day.
Than Shwe’s football-loving grandson had the party room’s walls adorned with posters of his favorite players, such as David Beckham. It was likely this sporting spirit that led him to adopt a bright red traditional Burmese jacket—an unusual choice in the eyes of many of his fellow countrymen—in the colors of his favorite teams, Manchester United and Liverpool; or perhaps it was at the recommendation of the family astrologer.
The cost of the celebration is not known but could have easily run into the upper five figures in US dollars. Zaw Zaw, the head of Max Myanmar Co and chairman of the Myanmar Football Federation, picked up the tab.
Nay Shwe Thway Aung is a familiar face among Burmese because he usually accompanies his grandfather on tours of inspection throughout the country and enjoys the red carpet treatment Burma’s generals always receive.
Some people in Burma suggest that perhaps the junta chief and his wife were told by astrologers that their first grandson would bring the family good fortune and power.
But many in the country remember the ill-fated destiny of previous “First Family” members in Burma.
Late dictator Gen Ne Win’s three favorite grandsons—Aye Ne Win, Kyaw Ne Win, and Zwe Ne Win—enjoyed considerable family perks, but as their grandfather’s influence waned, they and other family members were accused of crimes against the state.
In March 2002, the three grandsons and Ne Win’s son-in-law Aye Zaw Win, were arrested in a Rangoon restaurant, where they are allegedly plotting a coup with a senior army officer against the current military leaders of Burma. As many as 100 people were implicated in the alleged coup, and some 50 civilians, including a famous astrologer, were detained.
Ne Win’s grandsons were subsequently charged with high treason and are now serving life sentences in Insein Prison. Even the old general Ne Win spent his final days as a prisoner of his dictatorial successor, Than Shwe, under house arrest. Ne Win’s daughter, Dr Sandar Win, remains under house arrest.
It remains unclear how Than Shwe and his family intend to secure their legacy, and how they hope to avoid the fate of Ne Win. But Nay Shwe Thway Aung’s recent birthday bash suggests that, for the moment, the Than Shwe clan remains strong.
