A Rising Four-star General

To win high rank in the Burmese military, you have to work hard to carry out your commanding officer’s orders, whether they are right or wrong. This has been the key to the success of Gen Tin Aung Myint Oo, the fourth most powerful member of Burma’s armed forces.

A bold nationalist, Tin Aung Myint Oo rose to prominence in September 1988, when his commander was killed by insurgents in the battle of Mong Yawn, in the Communist Party of Burma’s War Zone 815 in eastern Shan State.

After Maj Thura Soe Lwin was killed by a 57 mm recoilless rifle, Tin Aung Myint Oo, who was also a major at that time, assumed command. Facing a fierce attack from 2,000 CPB insurgents, he refused to surrender and ordered his troops not to retreat.

Fighting continued for 12 days, claiming the lives of 50 government soldiers and 202 CPB troops. Tin Aung Myint Oo’s courage and determination on the battlefield earned him the title of Thiha Thura (“courageous as a lion”).

He quickly rose through the ranks as a protégé of Maung Aye, who was a brigadier general at the time and a leading member of the newly installed military junta. Within six years, Tin Aung Myint Oo was a brigadier general himself, while Maung Aye also continued his rise in power.

Tin Aung Myint Oo served first as the commanding officer of Light Infantry Battalion 111 in Wun Thoe, Sagaing Division in 1990, then as commander of Tactical Operations Command under the Northern Military Command in 1992. In 1994, he served No 1 Military Operation Command, based in Kyaukme Township, northern Shan State, as a brigadier general.

Within three years, he was commander of the Northeast Military Region in Lashio, Shan State. A decade later, in 2007, he replaced Gen Thein Sein, who now serves as prime minister, as secretary 1 of the ruling military council.

In recent years, Tin Aung Myint Oo has caught the attention of Snr-Gen Than Shwe, the regime’s most powerful figure. In March of this year, Than Shwe promoted him to the rank of four-star general.

Burmese military observers believe that the promotion of Tin Aung Myint Oo is part of Than Shwe’s strategy of creating three rival factions, each one loyal to him as the commander in chief of the armed forces.

Tin Aung Myint Oo leads one of the factions, while the other two are headed by Gen Thura Shwe Mann, the coordinator of Special Operations, Army, Navy and Air Force, and Aung Thaung, the minister of industry (1).

Since his promotion to the rank of four-star general, Tin Aung Myint Oo has become more influential among regional military commanders and the commanders of the Bureau of Special Operations.

Military observers say that Tin Aung Myint Oo is being groomed to take over the most powerful position in the military council, as Than Shwe prepares to choose a president and commander in chief after the military-sponsored 2010 election.

Sources inside Burma dismissed any speculation that these rising figures might stage a coup, noting that all three are loyal to Than Shwe and close to his family.

Shwe Mann is seen as protégé of Than Shwe and is close to some businessmen and scholars, while Tin Aung Myint Oo is loyal to both Than Shwe and Maung Aye.

irrawaddy