Does a rich Burmese family = military ties?

Factual Questions
1

This is just a question to satisfy my curiosity, and not about politics or ethics.

I have a friend who is from Myanmar. Both his parents still live there, and he is supported by his parents, as nearly as I can tell. He lives quite well by American standards and must live like a king at home.

I was wondering if it is possible to be wealthy in Burma without a connection to the army/government. I believe the army has a hand in all economic activity. His family doesn’t come up much in conversation, and you don’t really ask someone if their pops is Junta in polite society.

I should note I really don’t care how a friend’s family pays the bills, and I would still be friends with the gentleman if I found out his dad was a field marshal in charge of forced child labor. Just curious.

2

It sounds as if his family are from the top drawer, so he will be very well connected.

You could probably learn a lot by asking him for a run down on the Burmese political setup and economy.

Try asking him about Aung San Suu Kyi http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1991/kyi-bio.html
and especially her father
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,887426,00.html

Things ain’t all what they see on the surface.

It would be very interesting hearing your friend’s take on things.