A Than Shwe biography confirms he's a bully - he's even missing the 'heart lines' on the palms of his hands
Access to Than Shwe and his inner circle was out of the question, he said, though he did get "some quite amazing help from military defectors" who'd known the general in earlier years.
UN diplomats also assisted, including Malaysia's Razali Ismail, who's had dealings with the reclusive military chief.
Rogers, 36, works for Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a Britain-based group that calls itself "A Voice for the Voiceless". He's gleaned his insights during many visits to Burma's borders with Thailand, India, China and Bangladesh.
These insights are fascinating, despite the lack of better sources.
Than Shwe - corrupted by a brutal military system, motivated by power, and fearful of losing it and thus "exposing his family to revenge" - appears to be "losing touch with reality", Rogers said, as seen in the regime's paranoid and lethargic response to Cyclone Nargis.
He is, just the same, "a masterful expert at divide and rule".
Working in the War Office's Psychological Warfare Directorate was possibly a key influence on his mindset, Rogers said. Than Shwe was quiet rather than smart, and a mediocre soldier, on one occasion switching off his radio rather than report failure on the battlefield to his commanders.
But Than Shwe was "very obedient", currying favour as a yes man to Ne Win, his predecessor as Burma's leader, who "only liked followers". This humble soldier, ironically, has become known in recent years for his "grotesque extravagance".
"I think he changed with power," Rogers said. "He was less threatening than his rivals on his rise to the top, but more intelligent than he's given credit for."
Than Shwe surfs the Internet, reads Time magazine and watches Manchester United on TV.
"Humour is not part of his nature," Rogers noted. He's usually sullen-faced and, if the palm readers who've perused photos of his hands can be believed, heartless.
"Most people have three creases on each palm - the heart, head and life lines," Rogers said as he displayed an enlarged picture of the general with his hand in the air.
"He has no heart line. In palm readers' eyes, he lacks sympathy and empathy for other people."
Beyond that, Rogers said, there is "something deeply personal" in his antipathy toward pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
"The generals resent her education. Indeed, she represents everything they are not." Than Shwe believes "he is the 'father' and she is the 'daughter'". They once met face to face, and "after 10 minutes they had nothing to discuss".
Than Shwe "clearly ordered a very brutal suppression" of the monks who marched through the streets in September 2007 seeking reform, and it's widely believed that many bodies of monks and supporters killed in the crackdown were secretly cremated.
The top general was reportedly in "deep depression" at the time and "refused to speak to anybody", but the atrocities have continued.
In eastern Burma more than 3,500 villages have been destroyed, rape has been a "weapon" of war, children are forcibly recruited into the army and soldiers push citizens ahead of them into fields that might be mined.
Rogers includes a chapter on crimes against humanity, recounting tales of terrible atrocities on all borders - from Chin State on the Bangladesh frontier and Kachin State in the north to Karen State. The Rohingya routinely suffer, as does the environment.
Rogers believes the election coming up on November 7 is probably Than Shwe's bid to secure for himself a position like that held by Ne Win 22 years ago - officially outside politics but retaining power behind the scenes, "to protect himself, his family and his legacy".
"I don't have hope for him changing," the author said, "unless there was very targeted pressure on him."
He's pessimistic about the elections, too. "I think they're a sham … The election laws are worse than I ever expected."
Morale in the military's middle and junior ranks is extremely low, Rogers said, and many would defect if offered some "protection".
"There's almost no affection for Than Shwe in the military."
Rangoon reader
- Than Shwe: Unmasking Burma's Tyrant" by Benedict Rogers is published by Silkworm Books and is available at most bookstores for Bt625.