Survival Guides For The Junta's Wives - By Imelda Shwe

Do stay calm. When the realisation hits you, that you are married to one of the world's most notorious criminals, it must be a terrible shock for anyone. It must be even more horrible to have to go to bed with the killer, every night ! Just stay calm and do not panic. Do daily chores as normal and pretend you do not notice anything, especially the killing and torturing parts that he was involved, either ordering, organising, arranging or carrying it out himself.

Do not give your children the names that is connected to their father. It is a dead give away. Just imagine if you are called Kye' Mon Win, Khin San Yu, Thandar Shwe, Phyo Tay Za, etc,. and what happened when the individual sanction lists are published internationally ? Make sure you change their names to something completely different from their father's . For example, if your husband is called Col Kyaw Htun, call you son Aung Khant Thant Zaw and daughter Mar Lar Htoo Lwin.

Do send the children away, either to your parents' or other close relations. Explain to your husband that the schools are much better and the tuition fees are cheaper there. The less people know that the children are his, the better.

Do not send your children abroad, either to attend school or live. Even family members of 1988 Generals have been chased down like this. Also you don't want your kids doing this to feed the world's media and fuel the anger of the nation.

Do not keep the domestic helpers. They are witnesses and it is very likely that they will sell the story of their time with you, later, to the media, inside or around the world. Remember your husband is wanted and there are thousands of TVs, radios, magazines, newspapers who are willing to pay millions of dollars to anyone with the information of the junta and their families. So release them and do all the housework yourself. It will also save you and your family from being poisoned by the domestic helper.

Do not attend ceremonies, like weddings, funerals or birthday parties. There are spies everywhere and once your face is recorded, it will be a proof that you are connected to junta. Look what happened to the wedding videos on the youtube. Don't get carried away by a few minutes of pleasure, which you will then have to suffer for the rest of your life - a laughing stock of the world-wide audience.

Do change your hair styles often but do not go to the same hairdressers. Have different wigs. Wear glasses or sun glasses.

Do wear simple and neutral colour outfits. Never wear vibrant colours or flamboyant out fits. Only use a small black hand bag. Never wear high heeled shoes. It is important that you run to the safety in case of the violent protest, etc. so always wear flat or sporty foot wear.

Do use the public transport. It is too easy to spot you if you come in the most expensive looking chauffer driven car. If you use the taxi, walk to the next road first before you get one. When you come back, ask the driver to drop you at the place about a block away from your home. Make sure the taxi is gone first before you walk to your home.

Do look around before you open the door of your own home. Always make sure the back door is secure too.

Do not stay in the house which has more than 2 bedrooms and with a big compond. It will be too easy to be zoomed in by google earth. For example click here. The best is to stay in the middle range flat in a normal looking condominium, where nobody notices you unless you really don't mind your family home to be the entertainment of others, like this.

Do not wear any expensive jewellery. It was the biggest mistake that Thandar Shwe did in her wedding. You need to remember that not everyone is going to be very happy to see you rich, especially when they have nothing to eat and their children are dying of hunger. Remember French and Russian royals families were all killed by tbeir own people in the revolution.

Do buy gold but keep them with your family. If you have friends who live abroad, ask them to open a separate account for you. You can arrange the hondy and they can save the money for you.

Do not set up a family business either abroad or home, unless you want to be on these lists. Avoid investing in any share in businesses like these as they are black listed. They could be either sanctioned or destroyed during the revolution.

Do avoid sleeping with your husband. He will probably try to use you as a source of stress lease, especially after the major operations like smashing all the monks' heads of the entire monastery or burying a truck full of people who were still alive, in the middle of the forest at night. Try to use the normal excuses like headache, etc. but the best is to tell him that you have cervical cancer and move to a separate room.

Do not make contact with his family. After all, it was them who produced him - a murderer.

Do tell your parents and family members about what you husband was doing. If you have close friends tell them too. It is your security that your family knows your situation and be ready to save you if necessary, in emergency. Once a killer, he will be very likely to strike again and if he thinks you are in his way, you life is very much in danger. (that's why it is the best to move the kids to the safety a.s.a.p)

Do try to keep your husband calm. This will help you to create a peaceful atmosphere at home for both of you. Use any antidepressant like Prozac ,Paxil and Zoloft, etc,. You can either tell him he needs them or just put them in his meals and drinks regularly if he refuses to take them.

Do study the routes to the borders, either Thailand or India.

Do ring the UN emergency 24 hour hotline number 01 554 597 or 01 554 625 if you believe your life is in great danger. .