Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05RANGOON927
2005-08-11 07:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: EDUCATION MINISTER OUSTED, MORE CHANGES TO
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 110726Z Aug 05
UNCLAS RANGOON 000927
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, INR/B; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: EDUCATION MINISTER OUSTED, MORE CHANGES TO
COME?
UNCLAS RANGOON 000927
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, INR/B; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: EDUCATION MINISTER OUSTED, MORE CHANGES TO
COME?
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Burmese regime announced on August 11
changes in leadership at two ministries and within the Prime
Minister's office, including the firing of the Minister of
Education. The mini-shuffle may be a further rooting out of
former-PM Khin Nyunt loyalists and sources indicate more
"adjustments" are imminent. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) The SPDC announced in official state media that,
effective August 10, Education Minister U Than Aung had been
dismissed. His replacement is the current Deputy Minister of
National Planning and Economic development, Dr. Chan Nyein, a
mechanical engineer and a graduate of Rangoon Institute of
Technology. Despite the change, the Ministry of Education
remains one of only two ministries run by career civil
servants (the other being the Ministry of Health). Active or
former military officers head all other ministries.
3. (SBU) The regime's official orders, signed by Secretary-1
Lt-Gen Thein Sein, replaced Chan Nyein at the Ministry of
Planning with new Deputy Minister Col. Thurein Zaw. The
orders also announced that the regime had retired two
ministers from the Office of the Prime Minister, U Than Shwe
and Brigadier General Pyi Sone, a former Commerce Minister.
The SPDC did not name their replacements.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: It is unusual for the regime to terminate a
senior official, as in the case of Education Minister U Than
Aung. Retirement or reassignment are the standard
"face-saving" methods to make top-level changes. Than Aung's
ouster, and the other changes, may reflect a continued
ferreting out of former-PM Khin Nyunt's cronies. The
retirements within the PM's office follow by less than a week
the apparent dismissal of Cabinet Secretary, U Soe Tint, and
SPDC chief of staff, Lt. Col. Pe Nyein. Embassy sources
believe similar changes may take place soon at the Ministries
of Construction, Post and Telecommunications, Progress for
Border Areas, and Livestock and Fisheries. END COMMENT.
Stoltz
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, INR/B; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: EDUCATION MINISTER OUSTED, MORE CHANGES TO
COME?
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Burmese regime announced on August 11
changes in leadership at two ministries and within the Prime
Minister's office, including the firing of the Minister of
Education. The mini-shuffle may be a further rooting out of
former-PM Khin Nyunt loyalists and sources indicate more
"adjustments" are imminent. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) The SPDC announced in official state media that,
effective August 10, Education Minister U Than Aung had been
dismissed. His replacement is the current Deputy Minister of
National Planning and Economic development, Dr. Chan Nyein, a
mechanical engineer and a graduate of Rangoon Institute of
Technology. Despite the change, the Ministry of Education
remains one of only two ministries run by career civil
servants (the other being the Ministry of Health). Active or
former military officers head all other ministries.
3. (SBU) The regime's official orders, signed by Secretary-1
Lt-Gen Thein Sein, replaced Chan Nyein at the Ministry of
Planning with new Deputy Minister Col. Thurein Zaw. The
orders also announced that the regime had retired two
ministers from the Office of the Prime Minister, U Than Shwe
and Brigadier General Pyi Sone, a former Commerce Minister.
The SPDC did not name their replacements.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: It is unusual for the regime to terminate a
senior official, as in the case of Education Minister U Than
Aung. Retirement or reassignment are the standard
"face-saving" methods to make top-level changes. Than Aung's
ouster, and the other changes, may reflect a continued
ferreting out of former-PM Khin Nyunt's cronies. The
retirements within the PM's office follow by less than a week
the apparent dismissal of Cabinet Secretary, U Soe Tint, and
SPDC chief of staff, Lt. Col. Pe Nyein. Embassy sources
believe similar changes may take place soon at the Ministries
of Construction, Post and Telecommunications, Progress for
Border Areas, and Livestock and Fisheries. END COMMENT.
Stoltz