Posted on 10/20/2004 6:21:20 PM PDT by nuconvert
Burma's prime minister is ousted - Leadership shift viewed as blow to democratic efforts
By Grant Peck, Associated Press
October 20, 2004
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Burma's tough but pragmatic prime minister was removed from power yesterday by his hard-line army colleagues, clouding prospects for the freedom of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and for democracy in the military-led Southeast Asian nation.
The ouster of General Khin Nyunt, 65, who was also military intelligence chief, appeared to spell an end to a power struggle between moderates in the junta and a faction uninterested in negotiating reconciliation with democracy activists or with nations critical of the regime.
Khin Nyunt was taken into custody late Monday and charged with corruption, according to officials in neighboring Thailand, who were the first to publicly break the news.
At the end of a day that saw rumors about Khin Nyunt's demise swirl through the Burmese capital, Rangoon, the country's state radio and television confirmed his removal last night.
A brief statement said Khin Nyunt was ''permitted to retire for health reasons" -- a phrase used in the past as a euphemism for the dismissal of Cabinet members. It was signed by the junta's supreme leader, Senior General Than Shwe, and gave no other details.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
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And Beijing pulled the strings.
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