His recent duties, however, have kept him far from the front lines and out of touch with regional commanders and their battalions.
What connections does he have to Burma’s former and current power-brokers?
Shwe Mann’s classmates at the Defense Services Academy included Brig-Gen Kyaw Thein, a former intelligence officer with close ties to Burma’s former premier, Gen Khin Nyunt, who successfully evaded the 2004 purge, as well as current Minister of Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan.
When another of his academy classmates, Deputy Defense Minister Kyi Win, was removed from his post on charges of corruption—made by Myint Hlaing, the head of Burma’s air defense department—Shwe Mann had strong objections to the move but was powerless to stop it. The decision to sack Kyi Win came directly from Than Shwe and Maung Aye—a sign, perhaps, that Shwe Mann was being kept on a short leash.
What’s his take on The Lady?
Like most of Burma’s top military leaders, Shwe Mann generally avoids talking about pro-democracy icon and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Some observers believe that he has specific reasons for avoiding the topic. While Than Shwe is known to have an almost pathological hatred of Suu Kyi, Shwe Mann is cautious not to attack her publicly. Observers account for his cautious approach by suggesting that he may have to deal with The Lady on a political level at some point in the future.
What vision, if any, does he have for the country?
Shwe Mann has not yet shown his hand with regard to a broad social, economic or political vision for Burma’s future. He has been quoted as saying, however, that the country’s future leaders must have in-depth knowledge in two specific areas—gems and rice. He is also said to have taken steps to modernize Burma’s antiquated rice mills to improve export production. Such a suggestion—with its obvious failure to address issues of democratic reform and national reconciliation—is perhaps motivated by a family interest in both gems and agriculture, and may say more about his future vision than any specific statements on the issue.
What about business connections?
Alliances with Burma’s leading business tycoons can be richly rewarding to the country’s military leadership. While Shwe Mann appears to have no direct connections to business, his sons do. Aung Thet Mann is a director at Ayer Shwe Wah, which in 2005 became the first private company allowed to export rice to Bangladesh and Singapore. The company is part of Burmese tycoon Tay Za’s Htoo Trading Company.
Aung Thet Mann has been in business since his father was regional commander in Irrawaddy Division, where Ayer Shwe Wah received lucrative government contracts to supply fertilizers to farmers throughout the delta region.