U.N. envoy's Myanmar visit cancelled

Myanmar's ruling generals say they are investigating a plot to overthrow the government

YANGON, Myanmar -- A visit to Myanmar by United Nations special envoy Razali Ismail has been cancelled at the last minute as the country continues to probe what its military rulers say was a plot to overthrow the government.

The visit had been due to begin Tuesday and it is unclear why or at whose instigation it was called off.

The move has cast doubts on the progress of talks between the country's secretive military rulers and the pro-democracy opposition led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Since his appointment to the post in April 2000 Razali has been seen as a key player in persuading the governing generals to begin a dialogue with the opposition.

During his last visit to Myanmar, formerly Burma, in November he expressed hopes that "significant progress" could be made in the near future on reconciliation talks.

The U.N. has expressed disappointment at the calling off of Razali's visit, but said it hoped it would be rescheduled soon "in order to facilitate the national reconciliation process."

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Reuters quoted U.N. officials as saying the visit had been cancelled at the request of the Myanmar government because deputy foreign minister, U Khin Maung Win, was ill.

However, the news agency noted that U Khin Maung Win was not included on a list of officials issued by the U.N last week that Razali was expected to meet.

Among those who were included on the list were Senior General Than Shwe, the chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council, as well as Aung San Suu Kyi and senior members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

Coup conspiracy

Military officials say it is too early to know whether former ruler Ne Win was involved in the alleged plot

The cancellation of Razali's visit came shortly after a spokesman for the military government announced that former dictator Ne Win and his daughter Sandar Win had been placed under virtual house arrest as investigations continue into an alleged coup plot.

Speaking to reporters in Yangon deputy military intelligence chief Major-General Kyaw Win said more than 100 people were being questioned over the apparent conspiracy,

He said that among those facing interrogation were private security guards employed by Ne Win's family, several members of the armed forces, and a well-known astrologer, reportedly hired to give advice on the best timing for the coup.

Earlier this month, police arrested the husband and three sons of Sandar Win, daughter of the former Burmese ruler, accusing them of plotting to overthrow the government.

Elaborating on the apparent plot, Kyaw Win said relatives of Ne Win had hoped to set up a dynasty which would keep their family in power for generations.

"It can be assumed that they intended to hold power forever by founding a monarchy," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying.

Mastermind

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has not been seen in public for many months

He said Sandar Win's husband, Aye Zaw Win, who masterminded the plot, had revealed the details of the conspiracy to investigators.

They had allegedly been seeking to recruit military units to kidnap leading members of the military government and force them to swear allegiance to Ne Win.

Kyaw Win said neither Sandar Win nor Ne Win had yet been questioned over the plot and it was too early to say whether either was involved.

He added that although the former ruler and his daughter were not formally under house arrest, no one was being allowed to enter or leave the family compound.

A highly superstitious man, Ne Win ruled Myanmar for almost three decades until 1988 when the country's current military rulers took control.

He was widely reported to take policy advice from soothsayers and astrologers and presided over the steady transformation of his country from one of the region's most promising economies into one of the world's poorest.

According to Reuters, however, some diplomats in Myanmar have cast doubt on the veracity of any plot, saying the allegations may stem from disagreements among the ruling generals over how to proceed in talks with with Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD.

The party won a landslide victory in 1990 nationwide elections, but the military have refused to hand over power and the opposition leader has been held under house arrest for much of the time since.