YANGON: Myanmar’s military junta may be readying to move part of their administration outside the capital to somewhere ‘safer’, analysts and diplomats here say. Pyinmana, a region described by tour guides as full of ‘verdant charm’, could become the ‘escape city’ for top leaders, military commanders and some ministers, they said.

Some suggested that the relocation inland would be aimed at warding off a potential Iraq-style invasion by the United States, one of the regime’s staunchest critics.

Several ministries are preparing to move from October to the mountainous region, about six hours north of the capital Yangon along the road to Mandalay, analysts said.

“Starting in October, some ministries are going to move — defence, agriculture and energy,” one Western diplomat said.

“The ministers would go there, but they would keep a presence here in Yangon with the deputy ministers,” he said, noting that “this would allow another layer of screening when it comes to welcoming visiting foreigners.”

“These are rumours, but Myanmar bureaucrats are busy finding housing there, thinking of schools for their children,” he said. “I am told that they have laid a lot of concrete.”

Another observer said five ministries could move to the region which used to be a bastion of communist insurgents.

“It’s been in the works for three or four years. It’s pretty well prepared,” he said. The Myanmar authorities have called “for help from foreign experts, especially Russian.”

Plans for the site call for a military base, a large hydroelectric dam at Paung Laung built with Chinese assistance, as well as tunnels, bunkers, hospitals and, of course, a golf course, observers said.

A Myanmar businessman said the government’s military headquarters could leave Yangon in the next month and set up in Pyinmana. “Some went already,” he said.—AFP