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Ex-General Will Replace Ne Win as Burma Chief

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From Reuters

Sein Lwin, the tough former brigadier general responsible for suppressing opposition in Burma since the 1962 military takeover, was named ruling party leader Tuesday to replace Ne Win, who had run the country since the coup.

Sein Lwin, probably the most unpopular official in Burma after he led riot police in crushing student-led demonstrations that erupted in March, was elected chairman of the Burma Socialist Program Party by its Central Committee, state radio said. The party is the country’s sole political force.

Burma’s Socialist leaders also fired Prime Minister Maung Maung Kha, regarded as a moderate and technocrat who had held the post for 10 years.

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The committee appointed Sein Lwin, 64, to replace strongman Ne Win, who stepped down on Saturday, taking indirect blame for street clashes that have killed more than 200 people.

It also rejected a proposal dangled before the party by Ne Win for a referendum to decide whether to abandon the one-party system and bring back a multi-party democracy.

Other Official Fired

Myint Maung, chairman of the Council of People’s Attorneys, was also fired. Both he and the prime minister were held responsible for the protests.

The official News Agency of Burma said Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Kyaw Htin was elected to Sein Lwin’s old position of joint general secretary of the party.

Sein Lwin was appointed joint general secretary in 1985 to replace Tin Oo, Ne Win’s heir-apparent, who was ousted after being accused of trying to build a power base outside the ruling military structure.

Diplomats said that the new party leader faces the daunting task of implementing radical reforms agreed upon by the party last weekend to revive the economy, which has collapsed after 26 years of mismanagement, corruption and stifling state control.

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Observers said that Sein Lwin’s election meant tough times for protesters.

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