Such acts would fall foul of new electoral laws during the campaign season. Unfortunately, nobody is watching yet. Defence insiders say this does not mean the top job is being rotated among the services after decades of army domination. Rather, the military wants to create the impression that service association is no longer a paramount factor. The reshuffle is also likely to see the removal of army chief Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, one of the key figures in the recent removal of leading reformer Lt.-Gen.
Likely replacements are either the chief of the general staff, Lt.-Gen.
Djamari Chaniago, or the head of territorial affairs, Lt.-Gen. Agis Wijoyo, who is known to be close to Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri. The sudden retirement in early August of Burma's navy chief, Vice-Adm. Nyunt Thein, may be related to an unusual naval exercise that took place in the Andaman Sea in the last week of July. According to insiders in Rangoon, Nyunt Thein was sacked for performing below expectations.