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Junta leader shows no sign of illness at Naypyidaw parade

Myanmar put on a show of might and defiance at its annual military parade yesterday, with junta chief Than Shwe displaying few signs of his reported ill health in his new capital city.

Some 15,000 troops took to the echoing parade ground of the military-ruled nation's new capital Naypyidaw for Armed Forces Day, marching in the shadow of statues of old Burmese kings and flags bearing army crests.

Senior General Than Shwe, who stood in the morning sun without faltering for about one hour, delivered a speech rebuking countries such as the US that have taken the junta to task over human rights and democratic reform.

"Judging from lessons of the history, it is certain that powerful countries wishing to impose their influence on our nation will make any attempt in various ways to undermine national unity," he said.

He also vowed to "crush, hand-in-hand with the entire people, every danger of internal and external destructive elements obstructing the stability and development of the state."

After his 10-minute speech Than Shwe inspected the troops, standing upright out of the sun roof of his stretch Mercedes.

The public is barred from attending the event, but the annual ceremony marking the beginning of resistance to Japanese occupation during World War II is one of the few times of the year when Than Shwe allows his image to appear in official media.

That gives the Burmese a rare glimpse of the man who tightly controls almost every aspect of their lives.

They will look at him especially closely this year, amid widespread rumors that the 73-year-old's health may be failing.

He spent two weeks in Singapore for medical checks in January, and upon his return staged an unusual series of appearances in state media to dissuade any concerns about his health.

In a country where ageing generals rule with absolute power, the health scare highlighted fears of a power struggle within the military.

There is jockeying within the military to establish a clear successor to Than Shwe, who has ruled Myanmar since 1992.

Thailand-based analysts had speculated that this year would see the most extravagant Armed Forces Day because it may be the general's last.

"Many people in Rangoon are speculating that this could be the last Armed Forces Day [for Than Shwe] because of his health condition," Myanmar military analyst Win Min said, referring to Yangon by its previous name.

If Than Shwe was in any discomfort, he gave no sign to the gathered ministers, generals, foreign defense attaches and international and local media.

During his speech his voice was steady. After inspecting the troops, he gently exited the Mercedes before ascending the podium, where he stood still for about an hour.

"It was quite a show," US defense attache Colonel Daniel Tarter told reporters after the general had left the grounds.

He shrugged off Than Shwe's criticism of Western countries, which the general repeats every year, saying: "It was a fairly typical Armed Forces Day speech."

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