Burma treason trial opens

Observers had thought Ne Win's family was untouchable

The treason trial of four relatives of Burma's former military dictator, General Ne Win, has reportedly opened in a court near the capital Rangoon.

Futile efforts to meet the leadership led them to come up with this plot to change government

Police Lieutenant Colonel Sein Win

The general's son-in-law, Aye Zaw Win, and his three grandsons were arrested in March and are accused of plotting to overthrow the current military government.

If found guilty they could face the death penalty.

The BBC's Burma analyst, Larry Jagan, says observers still remain sceptical that Ne Win's family members were really plotting a coup, and suspect that the allegations have more to do with internal conflicts within the military leadership.

The investigating officer in the case told the special court that the family plotted a coup when their attempts to meet the country's top military generals failed, AFP news agency reported.

"Although they had tried repeatedly to meet with Senior General Than Shwe, General Maung Aye and Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, they did not succeed, so that was when they concluded they needed the help of some military officers to initiate the coup," said Police Lieutenant Colonel Sein Win during a detailed submission.

Aye Zaw Win and his three sons are accused of trying to recruit soldiers to kidnap the country's top three generals and introduce a permanent monarchy.

The defendants, handcuffed and wearing white shirts and traditional longees, sat with their court-appointed lawyers and whispered to each other during the proceedings.

Ne Win and his daughter Sandar Win have been under house arrest since the rest of the family were detained.

The military government has hinted that they believe Sandar Win is actually implicated in the plot, and that she is also likely to face trial in due course.