Few military dictatorships have proved as eccentric and resilient as the shadowy junta that used force yesterday to reimpose its authority over Burma.

The current leader, General Than Shwe, 74, is the regime’s third since the military seized power in a coup in 1962. Other strongmen are ready to take his place should his grip weaken over the country or his loyalty be challenged by the estimated 400,000 members of the security forces that keep the junta in power.

The Government of the coup leader, Ne Win, fell in 1988 after he amazed the world by promising a transition to democracy. This gave new vigour to the nation’s student movement and led to mass pro-democracy rallies.

The military suppressed the rallies at a cost of 3,000 dead. Ne Win was replaced by Saw Maung.

Saw Maung was in turn ousted in 1992 by Than Shwe, who has remained faithful to the principles of the “Burmese way to socialism”, keeping tight control over the media, isolating the country from the rest of the world and plundering its wealth.

While its neighbours have enjoyed rapid economic growth over the past two decades, Burma has remained poor and backward, despite its rich natural resources.

When Khin Nyunt proposed a more pragmatic approach to the outside world three years ago, he was sacked as Prime Minister and placed under house arrest. But the generals may soon be forced to change their ways.

The monopoly over information, once a major tool of repression, is being challenged by the protesters. Images taken on mobile phones have been broadcast around the world on satellite television.

The failure of isolationism, in the era of the information revolution, may yet be the undoing of one of the world’s most enduring dictatorships.

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