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As the incumbent Rangoon chief minister, former military general Myint Swe has called the shots in Burma’s most populous administrative region for the past five years.
Blacklisted by the United States, the Union Solidarity and Development Party member is not seen as a supporter of continuing political reform in Burma. Nevertheless, Myint Swe became Burma’s second in charge this week, placed in the role of vice president by unelected army members of parliament.
The 64-year-old’s tenure as top dog in the former capital saw several police actions that critics labeled as overreach. On 5 March 2015 officers took to violence outside Rangoon City Hall. Batons flailing, policemen charged into the middle of a group of 200 education reform protestors. Police were aided by a small group of plainclothes thugs wearing red armbands emblazoned with the Burmese word for “duty”. The vigilantes recalled the image of the Swan Arr Shin, a group of civilians trained by Burma’s former junta to intimidate democracy activists.
In the wake of the violence Burma’s Information Minister Ye Htut rejected reports that the Swan Arr Shin was involved and denied that the group still exists. But students beaten and jailed after further protests over education reforms in the town of Letpadan, Pegu Division, say that as chief minister, Myint Swe called upon the hired thugs to brutalise protestors.
“The military appointed the kind of individuals who are known for repressing civilian activists and we see that as intentional—a signal to continue the repression,” said jailed student leader Kyaw Ko Ko.
“I am worried about having an individual like this with such questionable background as a vice president to be part of the government. He will be detrimental to the reforms in the country,” echoed Kyaw Ko Ko’s jailed comrade Phyo Phyo Aung.
This week the election-winning National League for Democracy got its pick for president, choosing party stalwart Htin Kyaw as the country’s next leader. The result, which included the elevation of NLD lawmaker Henry Van Thio to the role of second vice president, took months of posturing between Aung San Suu Kyi’s party and the military over Burma’s new leadership.
This week’s apparent détente has led some observers to believe a balance will be struck, despite Myint Swe’s apparent conservatism.
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“As a government with strong backing from the parliament, they should be able to check and balance this,” said Nanda Sitt Aung, who also remains incarcerated pending trial for his involvement in the 2015 student protests.
“The new government, the NLD, has been constantly fighting military dictatorship in the same way as us, since 1988. I think the party will be able to assess and adopt a policy fitting with the situation. They may well have this in place already.”
With Myint Swe as a symbol of their country’s half-century of military rule, all Burmese—and especially those behind bars—will be watching closely to see how, or if, the once beleaguered NLD will be able to deal with an unwelcome reminder of the bad old days.
“No faith in new VP” (Myint Swe) ?
That was indeed an understatement !
Faith or no faith, it has no impact on the course of events that are to unfold. Mrs. Suu Aris is doomed.
There is no need for faith here. U Myint Swe has already shown his character. – But will he be the lady’s doom???
Myanmar Buddhists trust in the power of Karma.
“By their own actions they will prove their worth.”
Student opinion does not count. They protested education reforms for the sake of protesting the USDP government; their reasons were not valid.
The students are either ignorant or dishonest. NLD does not represent majority of Burmese people: it got only 12 million votes out of 34; that is just over 35%. And that is not democratic at all. Possessed by hatred of anything military, NLD voters had lost reason and balance. They were completely bewitched by Mrs. Suu Aris.
“Students’ opinion does not count. The protest for the sake of protest only…” that is WRONG. Not only in Myanmar, but world wide, and that means also in Myanmar, students are the top of the young intelligent people in the country. They understand a lot, and they are yound enough to dare speak out, when elders are cautious, keeping their mouth shut – for half a century (!)
.
To ignore students’ voices, about education, is like giving stones instead of food to your children.
You should be grateful to the students, because they spoke out about the short comings of the new education law.
They were actually quite well behaved about it. It is the police, that was cruel and broke their promises.
General Myint Swe had to be carful if he wanted to survive in the elected administration of Burma. He will be eyed by millions for his wrong move. “You can not teach new trick to old dog” is the well known verse for General Myint Swe. His bad habit would turn up in one corner of move and he will be caught red-handed whilst taking the bribe or executing the illicit order.
The same warning is true for 25 percent unelected military guys sitting illegally in the legislative area. One wrong decision to object the legislature regarding the dismantling of oppressive rule of fascist era would land them up in the rebellious forces and dealt by Rule of Law. I am sure people of Burma dislike the fascist military generals and they will be punished within the legislatures.
Are you dreaming or taking yaba?
The appointment of this vice-president with military background, and detested by many people, just shows how much power “the old boys’ club” still has behind the scenes.
– I cannot believe, that his boss (Gen. Min Aung Hlaing) could not find a more “progressive and clean” person in the huge crowd of military officers. It must be his old connections, still powerful behind the scenes, that elevated this particular non-elected VP to the top position, just behind the elected president.
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