Than Shwe - 000008 သန္းေရႊ

Title: Senior General
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Born: 1933
Background: Former postal clerk.
Interests: Specialist in psychological warfare, likes kung fu movies, consults blind peasant for astrological advice to make decisions.
Lifestyle: Daughter married in £26million bash in 2006.

Than Shwe, the xenophobic military strongman who has been Burmese Head of State since 1992, has the titles of Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and Chairman of the SPDC.

It is unknown whether he was born in 1929 or 1933, but either way he is well over the official retirement age for generals of 60, and has ambitions to remain in the presidency for life.

After working as a postal clerk, he joined the army at 20. Specialising in psychological warfare, he has been decorated 16 times.

Dogged recently by worsening health, he has cut back on public appearances after a top-secret week-long stay at Singapore's General Hospital in December 2006. He is known to suffer from diabetes and hypertension, and is rumoured to have intestinal cancer.

Than Shwe was criticised for the excessive, expensive celebrations at his daughter's recent wedding, seen here on YouTube.

A strong believer in astrology, he regularly consults E Thi, a blind peasant with a speech impediment, for advice.

He loathes opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and in 2004 jailed his prime minister, Khin Nyunt, and his family for supporting her greater involvement in Burma's political process.

General Than Shwe, 74, who came to power in 1992, is said to have kingly delusions. Visitors to his home are seated in chairs shorter than his, and the family are rumoured to address each other using royal titles.

The Burmese regime has tried to cloak itself in the mantle of past glories. The generals built a parade ground at Naypyidaw, their remote new capital, dominated by statues of ancient and heroic Burmese kings.

But the senior members of the State Peace and Development Council, as the junta styles itself, are almost all battle-hardened career soldiers.

General Than Shwe's background is in psychological warfare. He took part in operations against ethnic minority Karen rebels in the 1950s, before rising through the ranks under Ne Win, an earlier dictator.

Than Shwe was born in Kyaukse, a small town about 20 miles near Mandalay. It is in the central and northern part of the country. Same as Saddam, Than Shwe’s father passed away when he was about 10 years old and became an orphan.

Links:
http://sanooaung.wordpress.com/2007/11/16/than-shwe-will-follow-saddam-hu-sein/
http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/09/27/rgw_burma_shwe_wideweb
http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/8854,features,army-strongmen-who-call-the-shots-in-burma
burmadigest.info/.../04/than-shwes-monkey-hand/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/oct/07/burma.peterbeaumont