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Myanmar Names Navy Chief as New Vice President |
| Source: |
channelnewsasia.com |
| Source Date: |
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 |
| Focus: |
Electronic and Mobile Government, Citizen Engagement, Internet Governance
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| Country: |
Myanmar |
| Created: |
Aug 21, 2012 |
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NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar's parliament on Wednesday appointed the navy chief to replace a regime hardliner as one of the country's vice presidents, in a move seen as strengthening the country's reformers.
Admiral Nyan Tun, 58, who has a reputation as a political moderate, was selected by the military personnel who make up one quarter of the legislature and have the right to choose one of the two vice presidents.
His appointment was approved by an electoral college, house speaker Khin Aung Myint announced at a joint session of the lower and upper houses of parliament in the capital Naypyidaw.
"He's very quiet and known as a flexible man," a military parliamentarian who did not want to be named said of the new vice president. "He has three children and lives a simple life."
His predecessor Tin Aung Myint Oo -- a renowned hardliner with close links to ex-junta chief Than Shwe -- resigned in July ostensibly due to ill health, fanning rumours of a power struggle between regime moderates and conservatives.
Since taking office last year President Thein Sein, a former general, has overseen dramatic changes including the release of hundreds of political prisoners and the election of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to parliament.
The army's first candidate, Yangon chief minister and retired general Myint Swe, failed to win approval because his son-in-law is an Australian citizen, which under the constitution disqualified him from the post.
"The Yangon chief minister is not qualified to be a vice-president because of his Australian son-in-law. Military representatives changed the nomination in the last week of July to Admiral Nyan Tun," a parliamentary source told AFP.
The same provision is a barrier to Suu Kyi taking a top leadership role in the country, and her party has vowed to campaign to completely redraft the constitution, which was written by the former junta.
Myint Swe was one of the military leaders involved in a deadly crackdown on the "Saffron Revolution" monk-led uprising in 2007.
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Myanmar Names Navy Chief as New Vice President Myanmar's parliament on Wednesday appointed the navy chief to replace a regime hardliner as one of the country's vice presidents in a move seen as strengthening the country's reformers
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