On Nov 7, 2005, at an auspicious hour selected by astrologers, Myanmar's ruling junta shifted the national capital from Yangon to Pyinmana in Mandalay Division. According to the Minister of Information Brig. Gen. Kyaw Hsan, who briefed the press on the move, Pyinmana was chosen as the new capital because "it is centrally located and has quick access to all parts of the country".
Pyinmana is located approximately 400 Km from Yangon, in the Southern salient of the Mandalay Division. It is a key communication hub with roads and rail leading to the Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast. It also provides easy access to the Shan, Kayah and Karen states, which have been the scene of powerful minority insurgencies for over five decades. Its historic association dates back to the days of Burma's struggle for independence led by Gen. Aung San. It served as the military headquarters of his resistance army. Infrastructure including roads and buildings to house the new capital has been under development for the last four years. The location confers the new capital many advantages, which the military regime did not enjoy in Yangon.
Advantages of the new capital
From a strategic point of view, Pyinmana is better suited because of its secure and compact defence than. Unlike Yangon, which had a potential threat from sea borne invaders, Pyinmana is well in the interior. This is significant because the Myanmar Navy is a comparatively weak arm in the defence forces, which are essentially land bound with limited airlift capability.
Yangon had been the hotbed of democratic opposition to the military regime. Any activity there catches the attention of the international media. It has a large segment of civilian population who have frequently expressed their desire to get rid of the military rule. The main democratic opposition