Faces of 2007

Than Shwe himself is secure and probably doesn’t have many sleepless nights in his Naypyidaw fastness, even while his Fourth Burmese Empire sinks further into the abyss.

Hired ‘Hit Men’

The hired thugs who helped police and troops break up the September demonstrations were mostly members of two regime-backed organizations, the Union Solidarity and Development Association, or USDA, and the Swan Ah Shin, whose name means “Capable Powerful People.” Capable? Certainly capable of appalling brutality. And certainly powerful, thanks to the support of the regime, which calls the two groups “social organizations.”

A security officer tries to arrest Su Su Nway, in blue, during a Rangoon demonstration in August [Photo: DVB]

The USDA was founded in September 1993 by top military leaders of the State Peace and Development Council. Swan Ah Shin first came to prominence in 2003, when it was linked to the attack on democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and a convoy of her supporters in Daypayin.

Hitler’s storm troopers wore brown shirts, the militant supporters of Italy’s Mussolini turned out in black shirts. The Burmese regime’s equivalent of these fascist thugs wear white shirts, above dark green sarongs.

Otherwise, there’s not much difference between them. Their aim was, and is, the same—to enforce obedience to the state through violence and intimidation.

There’s no shortage of recruits, who receive between 2,000 and 2,500 kyat (US $1.50 and $1.88) per day and food, a very attractive proposition for the ex-cons and other criminal elements who eagerly joined up when the regime rooted around for help to smash the September demonstrations.

Business Cronies

After the junta’s brutal crackdowns on peaceful demonstrators in September, Western democracies—the US, EU, Canada and Australia—clamped sanctions on Burmese military officials, their family members and business cronies.

Tay Za, CEO of Htoo Trading Co Ltd [Photo: AFP]

Burmese tycoons Tay Za, CEO of Htoo Trading Co Ltd, Htay Myint, CEO of Yuzana Co Ltd, and Khin Shwe, CEO of Zaykabar Co Ltd joined the US administration’s list of targeted businessmen.

After the US imposed its targeted sanctions—including freezing bank assets—on September 27 and October 19, one of the junta’s cronies in particular, Tay Za, has seen his businesses suffer economically. His airline, Air Bagan, has been forced to suspend its flights from Rangoon to Singapore since November 4. An official of Air Bagan said in a statement to partners that the flights had been grounded due to the US sanctions.

Although the US has stepped up its sanctions on the Burmese regime by targeting businesspeople known to have close links with the junta, several of the generals’ friends and accomplices avoided sanctions.

Business cronies not on the list of US-targeted sanctions include the following:

Tun Myint Naing, CEO of Asia World [Illustration: Harn Lay/The Irrawaddy]

Drug lord Lo Hsing Han’s son, Tun Myint Naing, known as Steven Law, CEO of Asia World

Zaw Zaw of Max Myanmar Co, agent for construction projects at Naypyidaw

IGE Co Ltd’s Nay Aung and Pyi Aung, sons of Industry-1 Minister Aung Thaung

Chit Khine, founder and managing director of Eden Group Co Ltd

Aung Myat of Mother Trading

Win Lwin of Kyaw Tha Company

Win Aung of Woodland Co Ltd

“Dagon” Win Aung of Dagon International Co Ltd

Nay Win Tun, CEO of Ruby Dragon Jade & Gems Co Ltd

All profiles were written by The Irrawaddy reporters