Khin Nyunt Appears in Public - (Prodemos: Something to watchout)

(He might be used as a broker with the ceasefire groups... radio work needed here)

By THE IRRAWADDY

Burma’s former premier and spy chief Gen Khin Nyunt, who was ousted and placed under house arrest in October 2004, recently appeared in public and appeared to be in good health, according to one Rangoon source.

Khin Nyunt appeared at the Rangoon home of a former Burmese minister, Brig-Gen Tint Shwe, on July 7 and asked about the funeral of the minister’s deceased wife, Khin San.

“He and his wife spent two hours at the former minister’s home. They looked healthy,” said the source.

Burmese tycoon Tay Za and other businessmen associated with Burmese junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe were also present, according to the source.

Since March 2008, Khin Nyunt and members of his family are occasionally allowed to move freely, usually to pagodas and other religious places. He and his family visited Shwedagon Pagoda last year.

According to unconfirmed reports, Khin Nyunt has often been summoned by Burmese generals to Burma’s new capital Naypyidaw to help them plan the 2010 general election and also for discussions on foreign policy issues.

While he was in power, Khin Nyunt was believed to have good relations with the ethnic armed groups, such as the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the Karen National Union (KNU)

In 2004, the year Khin Nyunt was ousted and charged with corruption, he had ceasefire talks in Rangoon with the late KNU leader Gen Bo Mya.