The Irrawaddy News Magazine [Covering Burma and Southeast Asia]

Than Shwe’s Wife 'Recovering from Stroke'

By WAI MOE

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s wife Kyaing Kyaing is recovering from a stroke, according to a source close to the Tatmadaw (Burma’s armed forces).

Kyaing Kyaing, who is said to be in her early 70s, suffered the stroke in early December and is now recuperating, the source told The Irrawaddy.

Kyaing Kyaing

Kyaing Kyaing had been absent from Than Shwe’s side during the junta leader’s recent tour of upper Burma. She usually accompanies her husband on his official visits.

State-run-newspapers reported on December 19 that Than Shwe had been accompanied by his daughter, grandson and high-ranking military personnel during three visits to pagodas in Pagan.

A Pagan monk said that during the visits Than Shwe performed Yadaya rites—a kind of voodoo said to ward off ill-fortune—at pagodas named Myat Taw Pyay (Free from Anger) and Min Oh Chin Thar (the Old King in Prosperity).

A Tatmadaw source said he thought Than Shwe might be trying to atone for his decision to order a crackdown on the September demonstrations.

“As a Buddhist, I believe that bad karma cannot be resolved through Yadaya,” the source said.