BACK IN THE LIMELIGHT

Burma’s former leader Ne Win arrived in Jakarta for a three-day visit amid speculation that Indonesian President Suharto was to ask the Burmese patriarch to influence Rangoon’s military junta to open dialogue with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Speculation began to circulate in Jakarta two months ago that Suharto was inviting Ne Win to come discuss the issue of democratisation in Burma. An official in Jakarta said that the 86 year-old Ne Win had arrived as a special guest of Suharto on a private plane with his daughter Dr. Daw Sanda Win, his son-in-law U Aye Zaw Win, his grandchild Maung Kyaw Ne Win and several aides. Indonesian officials said Ne Win was to visit the grave of Suharto’s wife Tien in the city of Solo. But the Burmese public was not convinced by such a smokescreen. Gen Ne Win once known as "Burma’s Marcos", avoided publicity since he officially stepped down as a chairman of the Burmese Socialist Programme Party [BSPP]. Ne Win drove the resource-rich country into poverty with a self-imposed isolationist policy and isolated himself after his resignation in 1988. The picture of a roaring Ne Win and the smiling generals in the official newspaper enraged Burmese people as well as the international community who were still shocked by the army’s atrocities against the democracy uprising. But he did appear once when the generals celebrated the Armed Forces Day in 1989, a year after the current ruling junta staged a bloody coup. Since then, speculating on Ne Win’s death has become a popular pastime as well as talking about his love affairs, Ne Win’s lucky number 9, and some odd stories such as Ne Win’s absolute obedience in his chief astrologer. During his 26 years of rule Burma became one of the poorest countries in the world and Ne Win and his cronies remain some of the richest men in Burma. As the general enjoyed living in a life of luxury, taking yearly trips to Europe and Western countries, demonstrators in 1988 likened him to Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Ne Win’s original name is Shu Maung born in 1911. He was a post office clerk in Rangoon and member of the Nationalist Dohbama Asiayaone [We Burman Association] in the 1930s. He was also a member of "Thirty Comrades" who were trained by the Japanese to liberate Burma. He became commander-in-chief of Burma’s Army in 1949. The Slorc was established under Ne Win’s order. He summoned all commanders and trustworthy generals to his house telling them to stage a coup in September 1988. Though he disappeared in 1988, sources reported that the aging dictator occasionally met with his close friends and subordinates providing advice for major decisions. "Ne Win could be the man who still calls the shots," it added. "He is still influential," said a source in Rangoon. "He is also afraid of a peoples trial," the source added. Burma watchers and activists strongly believe that in 1989 Aung San Suu Kyi was put under house arrest for six years for publicly criticising Ne Win in her speeches saying he was responsible for Burma’s economic disaster. But it is doubtful whether the 86 year-old former dictator is still influential. Because of this, opponents based on the Thai-Burmese border said the trip to Indonesia might be just a business trip. Ne Win and Suharto have known each other for decades. In February, Suharto paid a state official visit to Burma where Rangoon and Jakarta signed two memoranda of understanding on Indonesian investment in Burmese industry and an airline services joint venture, as well as a feasibility study on investment potential in several sectors ranging from agriculture to manufacturing. It is believed that Jakarta has invested about US$200 million in Burma since 1988. At that time, Suharto also had a "purely private" meeting with Ne Win. Suharto invited Ne Win to visit Indonesia. "The trip [to Indonesia] could be purely a business and friendship trip and nothing else. Stop speculating nonsense–this man’s chapter is over," said a Burmese who is close to the officials in Rangoon. Some Slorc generals even try to distance themselves from Ne Win. "He is too old to do anything," the source said. Ne Win’s trip wasn’t mentioned in the Slorc-controlled press. Just before his surprise private visits to Indonesia and Singapore a speculation in Rangoon was Ne Win and his former BSPP remnants including U Aye Ko expressed they wanted to see a dialogue between Slorc leaders and the opposition party National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi. There are three groups of senior Burmese politicians currently concentrating on political development. One is led by Bohmu Aung who was also a member of "Thirty Comrades" — the second group is led by Thakin Thein Pe and the third is Ne Win’s group.