Lt Gen Thein Sein

LIEUTENANT General Thein Sein was formally appointed as the prime minister last week, replacing General Soe Win who died earlier this month.

The appointment of Lt Gen Thein Sein, who has been serving an acting prime minister since May, was announced in a declaration signed by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe on October 24.

General Soe Win, who had been serving as prime minister since 2004, died of cancer on October 12.

Lt Gen Thein Sein previously served as secretary (1) of the SPDC and currently holds the military post of adjutant general.

Since 2004 he has also been instrumental in organising the National Convention to adopt principles for a new constitution. The convention was concluded on September 3.

Lt Gen Thein Sein was the commander of Triangle Command based in Kengtong in Shan State for nearly four years before his promotion to a senior position in the SPDC in 2001. He was appointed secretary (2) of the SPDC in 2003 and the following year was promoted to secretary (1).

A separate announcement by the SPDC on October 24 said a senior member of the council, Lt Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo has replaced Lt Gen Thein Sein as secretary (1).

Lt Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo has held the military position of quartermaster general since 2001.

He also served for nearly four years as the commander of Northeast Command based in Lashio in Shan State before being promoted to a senior position in the SPDC in 2001.

In other changes announced by the SPDC on October 24, U Aung Kyi was appointed Minister of Labour, replacing U Thaung, who still holds the post of Minister of Science and Technology.

U Aung Kyi, who had been deputy minister at the same ministry, was also appointed Minister for Relations earlier this month to promote dialogue between the SPDC and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Meanwhile, three new deputy ministers were also appointed: Maj-Gen Thein Htay at the Ministry of Defence, Maj-Gen Kyaw Swa Khaing at the Ministry of Industry (2) and Maj-Gen Thein Tun at the Ministry of Communications, Posts and Telegraphs.

The government changes were the first since May 2006.