Jan 27, 2005 (DVB) - The situation within the Burmese army is still complicated after the “assassination” of the top General Maung Aye’s secretary Lieutenant-Colonel Bo Win Tun in Rangoon on 21 January.

It is still not known clearly how Bo Win Tun was killed. But a close relative of his told DVB today that the relatives were told by the military HQs in Rangoon that he was killed by “a bullet which was accidentally let out by another army officer”. But they were not allowed to view the remains of Bo Win Tun and they are still not informed who that army officer who “let out the bullet accidentally”. The authorities of Burma’s military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) still haven’t taken action on the matter.

Many kinds of rumours are flying back and forth in Rangoon and the local residents are speculating that there are serious splits within the army.

To make the matter worse, top SPDC leaders have not been seen on TV and newspapers during these days. Apart from General Thein Sein who is busy with the resumption of National Convention, the absences of Generals Than Shwe, Maung Aye, Shwe Mann, Soe Win, Khin Maung Than, Maung Bo and Aung Htoe are significant, according to political observers in Rangoon.

According to the latest reports, although Bo Win Tun was the only one killed on the spot during the shootout on Friday, sources close to the military HQs told DVB that many people could have been wounded. The sources also said, around 11pm on the night the incident occurred, spurts of gunfire were heard at the HQs and three military ambulances were seen rushing towards the scene.

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Lt-Col Bo Win Tun did not commit suicide, says family members

Feb 9, 2005 (DVB) - Bo Win Tun, personal secretary of Gen Maung Aye - Burma's number two top military officer did not commit suicide as some people said but assassinated by unknown gunmen on Jan 21 at around 7 pm in his office room in Rangoon, according to his close family members and sources closed to army doctors.

"He did not commit suicide. If he did, he would not shot himself in the chest," two close family members who request not to be named told DVB. Earlier, rumors spread in Rangoon that Bo Win Tun committed suicide after discovering about his wife having affair with another man.

"It is not true," members of his family said when asked about whether he had committed suicide. "We are disappointed about this rumor. But we are not allowed to talk about this," they said. According to the sources closed to army doctors at Mingaladon military hospital in Rangoon, Bo Win Tun was shot six times - one shot at his forehead and 5 shots at his chest. The source said the doctors found two different kind of bullets in his body.

"There must be more than one gunman. It must be two or more than two killers," the source said. But it is still not clear who are the killers and what is their motive.

According unconfirmed reports, people who assassinated Lt-Col Bo Win Tun are still at large, making General Maung Aye extremely nervous and paranoid.