Nay Pyi Taw, 27 September
Military’s administrative body has removed and replaced some generals and chief ministers less than two months into the extended state of emergency amid pressure from revolutionary forces and the international community.
Lt. Gen. Moe Myint Tun, who is under investigation for corruption, and Lt. Gen. Soe Htut were removed from the State Administrative Council on September 25, according to the junta-owned media. They were replaced by Chief of General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye and Lt. Gen. Nyo Saw, advisor to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.
Union Government Office-1 Minister Lt. Gen. Soe Htut was allowed to return to military duties, but there was no official announcement for Lt. Gen. Moe Myint Tun.
Lt. Gen. Moe Myint Tun is a confidant of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and was speculated to be his successor as Senior General.
However, after Mo Myint Tun’s dollar speculation and bribery scandals emerged, the military council appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Transport and Communications, General Mya Tun Oo, as chairman of the three committees on September 18 to replace Mo Myint Tun.
Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a political analyst, remarked, “The military council may have problems within their organization, and it is the most intense period of internal and external chaos for them”.
According to the military council’s announcements on September 25, U Aung Naing Oo, who served as Minister of Commerce after the military coup, was appointed as Union Minister at the Union Government Office-1.
In addition, Deputy Minister of Commerce U Nyun Aung, who is close to the sacked Lt. Gen. Mo Myint Tun, has also been relieved of his duties.
U Nyunt Aung is the secretary of the military council’s Central Committee on Ensuring Smooth Flow of Trade and Goods, and he was dismissed as the director general of the Department of Trade over corruption case under the U Thein Sein administration.
U Ne Phone Lat, a spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office of the National Unity Government (NUG), stated, “Based on the current situation, there may be other issues besides corruption cases within the military regime”.
U Bran Shaung, a member of the Union Election Commission, was relieved of his duties and replaced by U Khin Zaw; U Tun Ohn was appointed as Minister of Commerce; and U Min Min was appointed as Deputy Minister.
In addition, the military council promoted U Lwin Oo, Ambassador to the Russian Federation, to Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to CDM Capt. Kaung Thu Win, “the military leader will purge the notorious generals, select those he is fond of, and continue replacements”.
Reconstitution of the military council usually takes place only when the state of emergency is extended, but political observers said that reshuffling in less than a third of the emergency term might lead to chaos within the military regime.
Taking advantage of the problems within the military group, the revolutionary forces are calling on everyone to actively organize and continue to fight for the eradication of the military dictatorship.
News – Than Lwin Times
Photo: TLT