This follows on the heels of Indonesia's presidential election Monday which saw a win by Washington favorite General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. #msg-4079920
The takeover in Myanmar will put what looks to be another pro-West country next to China and not that far from the Strait of Malacca.
This will give the United States an additional strategic ally close to the Strait of Malacca and in Southeast Asia which is to be a hotbed of Bush’s war as he takes it global in his second term.
In the Pacific Theatre Southeast Asia will be a crucial component of Bush’s world war. #msg-3542419
The United States is trying for control of the Strait of Malacca. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said during a visit to Singapore that he hoped to have US troops fighting terrorism in Southeast Asia "pretty soon". His comments fuelled speculation that the United States wants to deploy US forces in the Strait of Malacca, the narrow and busy shipping lane straddled by Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore that is seen as a likely terrorist target. More than one million tonnes of oil a year -- well over 80 percent of China's imports -- are shipped through the narrow strait. #msg-3404130 #msg-3998608
-Am
Myanmar junta removes FM, deputy
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar's military junta has replaced five ministers, state-run media reported Sunday, including Foreign Minister Win Aung - the most visible face of the country's authoritarian regime.
The newspaper reports offered no reason for the changes. Those who lost their jobs were "given permission to retire," the reports said.
Win Aung often bore the brunt of Western anger and Asian frustration over his government's refusal to free pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, currently under house arrest.
The foreign minister's dismissal came two weeks before he was expected to attend the Oct. 8-9 Asia-Europe Meeting, or ASEM, in Hanoi, Vietnam. He was to have attended in the place of Prime Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt in a compromise with the European Union, which had refused to attend the meeting if Myanmar sent its head of state.
The EU has given Myanmar until Oct. 8 to release Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi or face more sanctions. It has already imposed a travel ban on Myanmar's military leaders and frozen their financial assets in Europe.
Win Aung was replaced as foreign minister by Maj. Gen. Nyan Win, formerly the vice chief of military training.
New ministers were also appointed for the agriculture, commerce, cooperatives and transport ministries - all vital for the development of the country's ailing economy.
Myanmar is one of Asia's poorest countries, and development has been hobbled by government mismanagement and economic sanctions imposed by the West. Last year, the government liberalized trade in farm goods, but in January it banned exports of rice and other basic commodities to stabilise prices and prevent shortages. Analysts said the decision severely hurt Myanmar's farmers, who make up more than 70 per cent of the country's 52 million people.
Trade has long been complicated by the sanctions, an unrealistically pegged exchange rate, widespread smuggling, and a severe shortage of foreign reserves.
At the same time, Myanmar has close commercial links with China and has recently been warming to India. Several major infrastructure projects are planned or underway, especially roads connecting Myanmar to the rest of the region.
The new agriculture minister is Maj. Gen. Htay Oo, who took over from dismissed Maj. Gen. Nyunt Tin, newspapers reported.
The new commerce minister is Brig. Gen. Tin Naing Thein, who replaced Brig. Gen. Pyi Sone, who became a minister at the Prime Minister's office.
Stronger hand for Myanmar hardliners after reshuffle
BANGKOK - A Cabinet reshuffle in Myanmar has strengthened the hand of hardliners and left a new breed of political novices from the military in charge of crucial dealings with the regime's international critics, observers said.
Foreign Minister Win Aung, who served as the foreign minister from November 1997, was dismissed on Saturday along with his deputy Khin Maung Win.
Their positions will now be occupied by senior military officers Major-General Nyan Win and Colonel Maung Myint respectively.
According to The Nation of Thailand, the major-general is regarded as a 'smart' soldier among his colleagues but is not that well known among diplomats inside and outside the country.
The new minister has been ordered to attend the Asia-Europe Meeting in Hanoi next month after the European Union barred Myanmar's heads of government from participating.
The EU, however, agreed to let a lower-level Myanmar delegation attend the meeting to be held on Oct 8-9.
Thailand had indicated last week that countries in South-east Asia would be happy if the delegation was headed by Mr Win Aung.
But the promotion of Major-General Nyan Win to the post and the appointment of a new deputy have raised questions about whether the unexpected reshuffle was pre-summit political manoeuvring by the junta.
Ms Debbie Stothard, of pressure group Altsean, told AFP: 'It's consistent with the trend to install more hardliners in the Cabinet.'
Quoting sources, the Nation said the Foreign Ministry reshuffle reflected military leader General Than Shwe's belief that the country needed a more reticent ministerial-level spokesman to deal with the international community.
The reshuffle also indicated that Gen Than Shwe, chairman of the junta's State Peace and Development Council, had taken a more firm grip on power.
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