I have just received word from sources inside Burma that Army units LID 22 and LID 44 began moving last night, in many trucks, towards Rangoon. This report is unconfirmed, but it says that the troops are being sent to replace the riot police that have been shadowing the demonstrators.

LID 22 is based in Thaton, in Mon State. LID 44 is based in Paan, in Karen State. These divisions have soldiers that have been in combat with the resistance armies. Moving such troops to Rangoon is identical to what the junta did in 1988.

 Together with the report from Burma Campaign UK, that soldiers are shaving their heads and dressing themselves as monks, this is a very worrisome development. Our sources believe that Than Shwe wants to crack down on the demonstrators, and the monks, and China, be dammed. It is uncertain if he will be able to do this, if the other officers of the Tatmadaw, and the soldiers, will permit it. Now is the decisive moment for Burma. With courage, we will prevail.
Roland Watson, roland@dictatorwatch.org