Police seize control of ruling party headquarters in Myanmar

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Police seize control of ruling party headquarters in Myanmar

ESTHER HTUSAN, Associated Press

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Security forces have seized control of the headquarters of Myanmar's ruling party as rifts between party members intensified ahead of upcoming general elections, witnesses said Thursday.

Tensions have been building for months between President Thein Sein and Parliament speaker Shwe Mann, both of whom have expressed an interest in leading the country.

An internal meeting was held at the Union Solidarity and Development Party headquarters on Wednesday to announce the selection of candidates for the Nov. 8 polls.

The local news site, Irrawaddy, said it was announced that Shwe Mann had been dismissed as the party chairman — infuriating some members.

His whereabouts were not known Thursday, but a witness said his home security officer was questioned by the chief of police.

Witnesses said that trucks started arriving late Wednesday and that some party members were prevented from leaving the building.

Minister of Information Ye Htut said on his Facebook page that it was an internal party matter.

"But I heard something is going on with the changing of party leaders or high-ranking offices," he said.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-08-13

[cumgranosalum]

So it looks like they've taken a leaf out of the Thai book.....the hardliners have taken over to pre-empt any government coming to power as a result of the upcoming elections which would have wiped them off the face of politics...this is a coup

[phazey]

Hmmm, this smells of the 2004 coup, where Lt General Khin Nyunt was detained and MI purged. All for becoming a little bit too liberal and engaging the opposition. Shwe Mann was seen to be doing the same, and the recent attempt to get the militaries veto reduced to 70% may have induced the overthrow.

Same old tbh....