Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) – Commanders of Burma’s military commands arrived in the new jungle capital of Naypyitaw, as the ruling junta is set to commence its year-end quarterly meeting.

Sources close to the military establishment in Naypyitaw told Mizzima that the junta supremo Senior General Than Shwe had directed the Commanders to reach Naypyitaw by November 20 for the quarterly meeting, scheduled to begin in the coming week. 

The quarterly meeting, according to the source, is likely to come up with a reshuffle among high ranking officials including re-appointment of cabinet ministers and allow old ministers, who are to contest the 2010 elections, to retire.

In the wake of the meeting, the junta is likely to form a political party, which will contest for office in the 2010 elections. The party will be backed by the junta’s civilian organization – the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) – whose patron is the junta chief Than Shwe.  

Aung Kyaw Zaw, a Burmese observer on the Sino-Burma border said the ensuing quarterly meeting will be more significant than previous meetings, as it will mainly focus on the details of next year’s elections.

“In this meeting, they will not only review the tasks they have accomplished this year but will also discuss matters related to the election,” Aung Kyaw Zaw told Mizzima on Friday.

He also said the agenda on transforming cease-fire groups into the Border Guard Force will be included in the meeting. 

“They will possibly decide on how to deal with groups like KIO and UWSA, which refuse to transform into BGF,” Aung Kyaw Zaw said.

While agreeing that there would be some changes following the meeting, Win Min, another Burmese analyst in Thailand said he did not expect that there would be a major reshuffle among the Generals but there is a likelihood of a few division commanders being promoted.

“I don’t think there will be a major change in the Burmese Army. It is possible that some division commanders with Major-General tags will get promoted to Lieutenant General,” said Win Min, but said he is unsure who will get promoted.

Meanwhile, the pro-junta social organization USDA is also set to begin its nation-wide conference on Monday at its head quarter in Dakhina Thiri Town near Naypyitaw.     

“I also heard that some of USDA’s candidates will contest the elections,” Win Min said.


Editing by Mungpi