Burma

The Junta's New Look

By THE IRRAWADDY Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Laotian Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh (center) is accompanied by his Burmese counterpart Thein Sein as he is greeted by ministers and deputy ministers in Naypyidaw on Monday.

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Is this photo a sneak preview of what civilian rule in Burma will look like?

While many observers predict that the end of military rule will bring no more than superficial change, they may not have realized just how cosmetic it will be.

After years of wearing the same old uniforms, it seems that Prime Minister Thein Sein and his entourage of government ministers couldn't wait to make a statement that would really tell the world that Burma is about to break out of the straitjacket of military rule.

The photo shows Thein Sein et al welcoming visiting Laotian Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh (wearing a business suit) at a military compound in Naypyidaw on Monday. From head to toe, they are dressed in nothing but the best in traditional Burmese finery: gaungbaung headdresses, immaculately white taikpon jackets, brightly colored silk longgyi and velvet sandals normally reserved for Buddhist novitiation ceremonies.

Along with Thein Sein, 26 other generals resigned from the military in April to take part in this year's election as political candidates for the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), including many who appear in this photograph.

The USDP has been officially registered by Burma's election commission and currently faces criticism from other political parties that its inclusion of government ministers violates election laws.

Their ostentatious fashion statement notwithstanding, it is interesting to note that the ministers who appear in this photograph are standing stiffly at attention—more like good soldiers than ministers greeting a foreign dignitary.

Related article: Naypyidaw: No More 'Military Government'

COMMENTS (21)

WILSON Wrote:

25/06/2010

If you guys ever stayed closer to them, you guys will know how horrible their lives are. Whatever they did all the bad things to people, even they can escape, but their children, their next generation will have to be suffered. They should see far for their next generation. Nothing can be permanent - good or bad all have to be changed. Burmese people are unnecessarily poor - unnecessarily.

plan B Wrote:

25/06/2010

Posters beware:

It is the people behind the masquerade that one will be dealing with.The same people that is SPDC. Approval or otherwise of their appearance a detractor,really make no difference.
Just like the useless "Myanmar going Nuclear" band wagon others here are still betting to get on.

Dealing with these entities is a MUST:
The 'when' 'how' and 'how long' is yet to be realized.

To reach that stage all the parties involved need to fess up. SPDC learn well from every mistakes they have made. Can the other parties involved claim such.

Jeering at a bunch of masqueraded devils just might promote indifference to present quagmire.The quagmire of using 50 mil as hostages by same entities that is becoming more virulent with N Korea as teacher.

The Sun Maker Wrote:

24/06/2010

Great Fashion! Who is the designer?

Sai Lang Kham Wrote:

23/06/2010

I wonder what U Par Par Lay will make of all this?

Alex Amrub Wrote:

23/06/2010

In the picture that is attached to this article, looking at the postures of the ministers, even though they are in civilian attire, one could still see the presence of military attention style standing posture .

Nayshinnaung Wrote:

23/06/2010

Are they going to perform "Oo talone neh shwe yoe"? It looks like it.

Pauk C Wrote:

23/06/2010

Hah Hah, look funny. Look like Zat Thabin.
Myauk Pho Sein Thein Sein and Associates. Most amazing thing is all the colour of Longyi has no same colour and these particular designs are for ladies. Poor former generals, even they were in Myauk Pho Sein dress, they stand like the soldiers. Sick of these people.

Singh Noi Wrote:

23/06/2010

There may still be green pants under the Longyi which originated from India and green shirts under the jacket that originated from China. The loose jacket and Longyi are good to hide weapons inside.

Kerry Wrote:

23/06/2010

This is a small step to showing the possibility of change.

But trust is not something one manufactures just to keep torturers in power.

Until all political prisoners are released, and until the elections are monitored, and all parties allowed, there will be no trust in Burma's military's 'new clothes'.

If a new phase begins, then the steps are clear: free the press and open up the voice of the country. Perhaps start with cessation of armed conflict, violence and cyber-bullying.

National money must be released, with UN supervision, to allow rebuilding of the nation's infrastructures, in freedom.

It must be more than new clothes for old violence.

Thagi Wrote:

23/06/2010

Yes, we can see that all monkeys in the picture are wearing "Hta-paungs" instead of traditional "Gaung-paung". Their leader Than Shwe stole Aung San Suu Kyi's "hta-main" and pieces of that "hta-main" are sewn around head-gears of military officers on the order of Dictator Thug Shwe.

Moe Aung Wrote:

23/06/2010

Ostentatious! Get out of here! They look like a bunch of stage clowns. Acheik paso (longyi or sarong) are worn by the groom and usually not even his father at a wedding.

In U Nu's time, they wore Bangkok paso, plains, stripes or checks, with patent leather shoes.

I'm surprised they haven't gone for the full Wungyi (minister)outfit with a robe and mitre.

timothy Wrote:

23/06/2010

They must be joking. Soldiers got no way whatsoever to come near the civil administration is my first point. In 21st century, the states devolved the power to people in various ways. The ethics and accountabilities are so sensitive that mere mistake recently made by Ex-Premier Gordon Brown during electioneering cost him and his party dearly and knock out of power. He just said "Bigot" and "that woman" to the pensioner. Big big mistake. The global people would just laugh at the pictures of Criminal/ Murderers in civilian suits.

Zam Mang Wrote:

23/06/2010

What I see is wolves with sheepskins.

The Art Piece Wrote:

22/06/2010

I think something is missing for "Maung Shwe Yo". Perhaps, an umbrella. Of course, military can provide all the musical tools and even expensive dolby surround sounds systems. Sun-glasses is a must for the head.

happy Wrote:

22/06/2010

Nice colourful sarongs like ministers on a stage

Myanmar Patriot 4 UMPF Wrote:

22/06/2010

We are most pleased to see the revival of Burmese culture. We also like to see preservation of our ethnic brethrens' costumes too.

It is good for soldier turned politicians to wear traditional 'pasoes' with 'jate'.
We do not like to see soldiers in uniform in Buddhist monasteries and in public gaterings;they should be in uniform only when on duty. We reflect the view of our king HM King Shwebomin II.

We denounce all the wrong doings of the military junta, past and present, but we do not condemn every action of theirs; we look at every issue and action from patriotic, not hatred, point of view.

Keep up the good work. Respect the people and our culture.

James O'Brien Wrote:

22/06/2010

Well, well.

Colorful and hand-woven sarongs were probably custom woven for the cur, while ordinary people go threadbare, but is it case of The Emperors' New Clothes.

Their nakedness shows their nuclear ambitions.

Today, June 22, 2010, Robert Kelley, former director of International Atomic Energy Agency, is giving a presentation at National Endowment for Democracy in Washington DC about recent revelations by army defector about the nuclear tunnels.

Be there!

In past velvet was reserved for royalty and that's what they are aping.

K Wrote:

22/06/2010

What's up with bright color longyis!

SAM Wrote:

22/06/2010

I couldn't help laughing out loud. They look like multi-coloured stiff puppets—the only thing missing is the stage with the Senior General pulling strings from behind the curtains. They probably dare not move or breathe in case their Pasoe fall off.

A.M.O Wrote:

22/06/2010

Yes, they do look like clowns(in Burmese Lu-Byet) in Burmese talk-show (Ah-Nyeint), cracking sitcom (Jokes).

Please stop appearing in the media or People might laugh to their death etc.

Dr.Myo.THI-HA Wrote:

22/06/2010

My personnel point of view:
They are absolutely ugly wearing the traditional dress.(look like clowns).

They are better to wear the military uniform but not to be in state power.