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Election Stance
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Fact
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Position:
Joint chief of staff, 3 highest rank of the SPDC
Date of Birth:
11 July 1947
Place of Birth: ?
Ethnicity and Religion: ?
Education:
Defence Service Academy, Maymyo (1969) intake 11
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Latest News:
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Secret mission to North Korea in November 200?
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Background
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According to sources close to the military elite, the SPDC’s third in line Shwe Mann will be nominated to be the next leader of Burma by the representatives of the military in the future Senate and House, to be formed after the planned 2010 elections. He rose steadily through the ranks of the officers’ corps, and earned the honorific title “Thura” for military operations against the Karen National Liberation Army in 1989. Shwe Mann, a protégé of Than Shwe, has a reputation of being down to earth and a good listener, Shwe Mann seems to have earned considerable respect among Burma’s foot soldiers, particularly those who served directly under his command. His recent duties, however, have kept him far from the front lines and out of touch with regional commanders and their battalions. Shwe Mann appears to shun the spotlight and rarely speaks in public.
He has not shown any clear political or social views since he is still under the influence of two senior generals: Snr-Gen Than Shwe and Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye. Rumored to be taking steps to modernize Burma’s antiquated rice mills to improve export production, Shwe Mann and his son, Aung Thet Mann, enjoy a close working relationship with junta business crony Tay Za. 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. As a leader, some businessmen in Rangoon have said Shwe Mann would look toward economic reform. |
| Career data |
| 2003 |
General |
| 2002 |
Tatmadaw Nyi Hnying Kutkae Yay Hmu, or Coordiantor of Special Operations which gave him oversight of Burma’s Bureaus of Special Operations |
| November 2001 |
Joint Chief of Staff (Ministry of Defence), which gave him oversight of all commanders from the army, navy and air force |
| 2000 |
Major General, SPDC Member |
| 1997 |
Commander Southwest Military Region in Bassein, Irrawaddy Division, as well as a de facto member of the SPDC |
| 1996 |
Brigadier General; oversee security in Rangoon as commander of the elite LID 11 based in Taukkyant, 20 miles (32 km) west of the former capital |
| 1991 |
Tactical operations commander for Light Infantry Division (LID) 66 based in Prome northern Bago Division |
| ? |
Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel |
| ? |
Regiment Commander in Karen State |
| 1988 |
Major |
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