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 in the session of 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 had resigned due to health reasons.

Military officers who are members of parliament – ​​who make up 25% of the members – 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,” said opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi before the nominations were 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 reform supporters. “To be honest, I would have preferred someone else to be nominated who could 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