Military bloc in Myanmar’s parliament nominates hardline former general to be vice-president

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s military nominated a former general known as a political hardliner Tuesday to be the country’s vice-president.

The constitution reserves 25 per cent of parliamentary seats for the military, even though the elected government of reformist President Thein Sein is nominally civilian. The military has the right to name one of the country’s two vice-presidents, and parliamentary approval of its nominee is a formality.

The bloc’s nominee is Myint Swe, who has been chief minister of the Yangon region, said Brig. Gen. Wai Lin, one of the military’s representatives in parliament. The important Yangon post involved responsibility for the country’s biggest city and commercial centre.

The vice presidency was open because Tin Aung Myint Oo left earlier this month for health reasons.

Myint Swe, 61, graduated from the prestigious Defence Services Academy, served in the military under the long-ruling junta and was a general staff officer under junta leader Than Shwe.

He also was commander of the Yangon region and briefly led military affairs security after the military intelligence unit led by then-Prime Minister Khin Nyunt was dismantled in late 2004. Myint Swe was elected in the 2010 general election as a candidate of the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party.

The nomination comes a day after a minor cabinet shakeup was announced, with six ministers shifting jobs but no exits or new arrivals.

Government advisers said Thein Sein intends to merge some ministries to improve efficiency and expedite economic and political reforms after five decades of repressive military rule.

05:57ET 10-07-12