Myanmar: Former intelligence chief nominated as vice president

According to sources from the Myanmar Parliament, the country's former military intelligence chief - Mr. Myint Swe - was nominated to hold the position of vice president during a session in the House of Representatives on July 10.

Yangon City Chief Minister Myint Swe nominated for vice president of Myanmar - Photo: AFP

Earlier this month, President Thein Sein announced that Permanent Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo was resigning due to health reasons.

Military officials who are members of parliament - who make up 25% of the parliament - have the right to nominate one of the two vice presidents. Their nominations must still be approved by parliament. "I hope the new vice president will work for national reconciliation and the development of democracy," opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said before the nomination was announced.

Mr Myint Swe, 61, is seen as a hardliner and has close ties to former Field Marshal Than Shwe, who headed Myanmar’s military government until March 2011. So the nomination disappointed reformists. “To be honest, I would like someone else to be nominated, someone who can support President Thein Sein in the difficult reform process,” said one businessman.

But there are also opinions that Mr. Myint Swe will not affect Myanmar's development process.

Mr. Myint Swe was the head of special operations in Yangon during the 2007 monk uprising. His military rank before retiring was lieutenant general. Like many former senior military officials, Mr. Myint Swe joined the civilian government and is now the chief minister of Yangon.

According to Tuoi Tre - DT