Yangon, August (21)
The reshuffle of the military council, which extended the state of emergency, was to appoint those they trusted as a replacement, analysts told Than Lwin Times.
The military council forced some Ministers to retire and announced on August 19 the reshuffle of the Union Government and allowed Minister U Chit Naing of No.2 Union Government Office; U Khin Yi, Minister of Immigration and Population; and Chairman and Deputy-Chairman of the Central Bank of Myanmar, U Than Nyein and U Win Thaw to retire.
The four Ministers from the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry of Immigration and Population, Ministry of Labor, and Ministry of Commerce were transferred to other ministries.
Moreover, four Ministers of Security and Border Affairs for Bago and Ayeyarwaddy Regions, and Shan and Mon States were replaced.
A military reshuffle means appointing loyalists and may be a preparation for the coming election, political analyst Dr. Sai Kyi Zin Soe said.
He added, “Rather than a friction, he’ll have suspicions or something. We see less representation of women in this reshuffle. Also, those associated with the military became members of the newly established cabinet. As they chose who has a military background and the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), I believe they are preparing for the USDP or general election. “
U Tin Oo Lwin has been appointed as the chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, where the coup regime is based, and the chairman, Dr. Maung Maung Naing, has been transferred and appointed as the chairman of the Union Civil Service Board.
In addition, the Chief Minister of Chin State, the Chairman of Anti-Corruption and the Union Attorney General have also been replaced.
The military leaders, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Deputy Senior General Soe Win, who seized power on the pretext of vote fraud in the 2020 election, remain as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister as before.
According to the 2008 constitution, the military council extended the state of emergency for six months on July 31, and it will expire on February 1, 2023.
After that period, the military council must hold mandatory elections.
The military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, promised in a meeting held on August 16 that he would try to restore the political and economic situation in the next six months in order to hold the election.
The country has deteriorated in many sectors, such as politics, the economy, education, and health care, in the 18 months after the coup. The homes of local people were torched and destroyed by the military, and people fled the conflict-hit area.
As of August 8, according to the United Nations, there are more than 900,000 people who have fled their homes due to the conflict and insecurity that occurred after the military coup.
News- Than Lwin Times
Thanlwintimes