Rumours began circulating last week that there was a coup in Burma. Not a coup to be particularly excited about, mind you, as it was suspected the Junta's number two man, Maung Aye, had ousted General Than Shwe - who himself had seized power in an overthrow of General Khin Nyunt. But, as far as news goes, a coup is nothing to shake a stick at. For a few days at least, news agencies and the Thai intelligence were all abuzz trying get confirmation. Except for the paper which ran the original story, (which I haven't found, by the way) few Burma watchers ever believed it was true. Although unusual fluctuations in the exchange rate and price of gold in Burma did give some pause - it seems merely that the rumor was wreaking a bit of havoc in Yangon as well.

Of course, there was no coup. Although the Junta is being a bit obtuse as to the actual whereabouts of Than Shwe, it seems likely that the old man is convalescing in a military hospital, or lounging by the pool at his mansion. So where did such a rumour come from? The respectable newspapers and quoted academics seem to be putting forth the idea that the rumor spontaneously erupted from an ever anxious and hopeful populace. When the elusive Than Shwe seemed to be incommunicado, and Maung Aye seemed to be doing things he wouldn't normally be doing - people assumed the worst. Or the best. Or neither, because what difference does it make which megalomaniacal general is in charge?

The International Herald Tribune has a rather sedate article on the subject. "Wishful thinking" is given as one possible source of the rumour. However, there is this juicy little nugget at the end of the article:

According to unofficial reports, they are spending tens of millions of dollars to move the military headquarters from the capital, Yangon, 580 kilometers, or 360 miles, north to Pyinmana.
 
"They've started building mansions, compounds, underground tunnels, bunkers, all kinds of weird things," Aung Zaw said.
 
No one is quite sure what the complex is for. Some say it is a defensive position in case of an American invasion feared by the generals. Others say that like many of the policies of Myanmar's rulers over the years, it is being built at the direction of astrologers.


Which leads me to beleive that the Democratic Voice of Burma may have sussed the situation.
Recent rumours of the ouster of Burma’s military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) chairman Gen Than Shwe, were deliberately spread by the junta as part of a ploy to ward off evil, according to fortune-tellers and astrologers in Rangoon.


The planet Mars has come perilously close to Earth these last two days, an event which would surely bring bad luck to the rulers if not circumvented. The Burmese Junta spreading rumors of a coup to ward off evil forces? That's some kind of terrible irony. Spreading rumours to ward off evil while building secret bunkers and underground mansions? Either they know something we don't, or they've all finally tanked it off the deep end.

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