Taipei _ Taiwan’s Burmese expatriate community has reacted with shock to their government’s announcement on Monday that it was moving the capital from Rangoon to Pyinmana, with speculation rife here that the military regime is acting on astrologers’ advice.

“This is crazy. Pyinmana has nothing to boast of. To move the capital to Pyinmana is unthinkable. Imagine the difficulty in rebuilding a capital, let alone the cost!” U King, 65, a former Rangoon lawyer, told DPA.

U King rejected speculation that the relocation of the capital is to avoid a US seaborne attack similar to that of Iraq. Like many of his 100,000-strong compatriots in Taipei, U King has a more mystical explanation.

“Myanmar’s [Burma's] leaders might have sought astrologers’ advice and believe the move can improve Myanmar’s fengshui. Myanmar’s leaders are strong believers in fengshui. When Ne Win ruled Myanmar [from the 1960s to the 1980s], he considered relocating the capital for the sake of fengshui,” U King said.

Bangkok Post Thursday 10 November 2005 - Is fengshui behind Burmese capital move?

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