"With Ne Win?s death, some say the personality-driven succession arrangements among leaders of the armed forces will go too... If history is any guide, the current military leaders will find it tougher to manage succession arrangements within the Tatmadaw (armed forces) in the wake of Ne Win?s death and the collapse of his personal dictatorship. A new style of personality power was institutionalized when Ne Win, sensing the important role the military would play in determining Burma?s post-colonial fate, gained control of the Tatmadaw in 1949. Only his most trusted proteges rose among the ranks while he demoted other officers whimsically. He personally handpicked former Gen Saw Maung and the current Number One, Sr-Gen Than Shwe..."