Major Hla Win, a Myanmar military officer has fled to Thailand to seek asylum after apparently refusing to follow orders to attack monks. He is the first known case of a military official fleeing the country since the junta ordered a crackdown on a protest led by Buddhist monks.

This is the first major indication that many in the military, who were devout Buddhists, were confused and hurt by the crackdown on Buddhist monks last week. Many are said to have disobeyed the order to attack the monks. Major Hla Win being the first to corroborate this story.

Other events are also showing some realignments and changes occuring within the Myanmar military this week.

Prime Minister Soe Win, the ailing leader of the military junta died on Tuesday after a long battle with leukemia. The 59 year old leader had been undergoing medical treatment in Singapore for the past three to four months.

Lieutenant General Soe Win earned a reputation as a hardliner and loyalist of the military's top commander, Senior General Than Shwe.

Described by others at the "Butcher of Depayin", he was said to have masterminded a bloody attack in Depayin in 2003 when the motorcade of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was passing through the area. Ms Suu Kyi was arrested during this motorcade.

United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari was meeting the other members of the military junta when the news of Soe Win's death was announced. Mr. Gambari was in a meeting with generals Than Shwe and Maung Aye, the government's existing top two leaders and the only holdovers from the ruling council that took power in 1988.

There were two newcomers in the meeting with Mr. Gambari. Army chief Thura Shwe Mann and Acting Prime Minister Thein Sein.

General Shwe Mann, 60 became commander-in-chief of the Myanmar army last year, taking over the reins from General Than Shwe. He has a commanding role against the insurgency of the Karen ethnic minority. He is also the point man in engaging with businesses and countries that have interests in Myanmar. He is being touted as the potential successor to General Than Shwe.

Lieutenant General Thein Sein held the post of "Secretary 1" before becoming acting Prime Minister in Prime Minister Soe Win's sickness and absence. Mr. Thein Sein gained prominence last month when he publicly dismissed critics of a proposed Constitution amid early signs of unrest among the people.

For now, the military, despite some cracks is showing its strength in controlling any further signs of unrest. Indeed, night arrests are common with people being brough to unknown destinations for interrogation. An atmosphere of fear prevails over the country's people and will seem to remain so for the forseeable future.

Learn more about this author, Anthony Mendoza.
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