Chaos as Myanmar's army relocates capital to jungle
Mail & Guardian Online
________________
Myanmar's increasingly reclusive and repressive military junta showed off its mysterious new capital, Naypyidaw, to outsiders on Monday for the first time, during a ceremony to mark Armed Forces Day.
Buried deep within the country's dense mountainous jungle, Naypyidaw, a heavily fortified compound meaning Royal City, is just outside the town of Pyinmana, 370km north of Rangoon, which remains the commercial centre.
________________
See Also:
Burma shows off new capital with display of force
Burmese see new capital for the first time
________________
The generals claim it will be easier to run Myanmar from the purpose-built "command and control centre", which is not complete four months after civil servants were secretly whisked off to it from their homes and offices in Rangoon.
The new buildings on show on state television on Monday looked impressive, as did huge statues of three of Myanmar's most famous kings that stared down on to the parade ground.However, the lack of facilities, including such basics as telephone lines, and poor access to the rest of the country has prompted virtually all embassies, aid agencies and international organisations to stay in Rangoon.
There are widespread rumours that the move was prompted by rampant paranoia and astrologers' advice.
Mar 28, 2006
Mail & Guardian Online
________________
Myanmar's increasingly reclusive and repressive military junta showed off its mysterious new capital, Naypyidaw, to outsiders on Monday for the first time, during a ceremony to mark Armed Forces Day.
Buried deep within the country's dense mountainous jungle, Naypyidaw, a heavily fortified compound meaning Royal City, is just outside the town of Pyinmana, 370km north of Rangoon, which remains the commercial centre.
________________
See Also:
Burma shows off new capital with display of force
Burmese see new capital for the first time
________________
The generals claim it will be easier to run Myanmar from the purpose-built "command and control centre", which is not complete four months after civil servants were secretly whisked off to it from their homes and offices in Rangoon.
The new buildings on show on state television on Monday looked impressive, as did huge statues of three of Myanmar's most famous kings that stared down on to the parade ground.However, the lack of facilities, including such basics as telephone lines, and poor access to the rest of the country has prompted virtually all embassies, aid agencies and international organisations to stay in Rangoon.
There are widespread rumours that the move was prompted by rampant paranoia and astrologers' advice.
Mar 28, 2006
