US embassy cable - 05RANGOON105

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000105 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, MARR, BM 
SUBJECT: BURMA: MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF SENIOR SPDC AIDE SPARKS 
RUMORS OF POWER STRUGGLE 
 
Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: The mysterious death on January 21 of SPDC 
Vice Chairman Maung Aye's personal assistant sparked rumors 
of a senior regime power struggle, but as of COB January 25 
the SPDC is carrying on with business as usual and nothing 
appears to be amiss in Rangoon.  Sources are inconsistent on 
the cause of the aide's death, but suicide is a strong 
possibility.  SPDC plans to fill a junta vacancy (that has 
existed since PM Khin Nyunt's October ouster) could have 
sparked the recent spate of rumors.  Such a move could 
precipitate a larger shuffle, but the GOB has yet to make any 
official announcement.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) Little is known about the circumstances surrounding 
the mysterious death on January 21 of Lt Colonel Bo Win Tun, 
the 42 year-old personal assistant of SPDC Vice Chairman 
Maung Aye.  According to obituaries published in the regime's 
official newspaper on January 23, Bo Win Tun passed away at 
11:00 p.m. "while on duty."  An Emboff observed the military 
funeral for the deceased officer, which took place on January 
23.  Several dozen SPDC and GOB cabinet members attended, 
including Maung Aye. 
 
3. (C) According to credible Embassy sources, Bo Win Tun died 
in his office, located at the Ministry of Defense main 
compound in northern Rangoon.  The compound houses offices 
for Maung Aye and SPDC Chairman Than Shwe, and was the venue 
for a quarterly meeting of the 12-member junta that 
apparently concluded on the afternoon of January 21 (a 13th 
slot in the SPDC has been vacate since the October 2004 
ouster of former PM Khin Nyunt). 
 
4. (C) Sources are less certain, and less consistent, about 
the cause of death.  Well-connected military sources revealed 
to Emboffs that Bo Win Tun committed suicide (with a sidearm) 
following a harsh reprimand earlier in the day from Maung Aye 
for carrying on an extramarital affair.  A number of 
opposition and local contacts speculate that Bo Win Tun was 
the victim of a botched assassination attempt against Maung 
Aye, but sheepishly admit that their information is coming 
from rumors broadcast by the Oslo-based Democratic Voice of 
Burma (DVB). 
 
5. (SBU) Several exile media outlets also reported rumors 
that, following the mysterious death, Senior General Than 
Shwe had arrested Maung Aye and PM Soe Thin.  However, on 
January 25 Embassy sources observed top SPDC leaders carrying 
out their regular schedules and there were no signs of 
unusual activity in Rangoon.  Rumors have been consistent in 
recent weeks that the SPDC plans to fill the vacant S-2 
position, which could precipitate a shuffle of regional 
military commanders and other members of the regime.  Rumors 
of a shuffle are plausible, but the GOB has made no official 
announcement. 
Martinez