"The unrivalled leader of the country shows no signs of yielding power... When Burma was rocked by nationwide street demonstrations in 1988, a high-ranking army officer feared the mob might suddenly turn their anger against his family. To protect them, says a close friend of the officer, he locked his family inside their home because "they were scared to death". The head of that household is Sr-Gen Than Shwe, now the leader of Burma?s military government. Today, the streets in Rangoon are safer than in 1988 and his family no longer worries for their security. But Than Shwe is not about to let down his guard. "He is still scared," jokes a former army officer living in Rangoon. "Scared to give up power." His paranoia does not augur well for the people of Burma..."