The military’s nomination for vice president of former intelligence chief U Myint Swe has been met with widespread dismay, raising concerns that the elevation of such a prominent hardliner with strong business interests – and still the subject of US sanctions – bodes ill for power-sharing between the Tatmadaw and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s government.
The retired lieutenant general, currently the controversial chief minister of Yangon Region, was confirmed as the Tatmadaw’s candidate on March 11 following a meeting of the 166 appointed military MPs who make up just over 25 percent of all parliamentary seats.
Former political prisoners and members of Yangon’s regional parliament were vocal in their disappointment, while members of the National League for Democracy were privately dismayed.
Holding 390 seats out of a total of 657 in the combined houses of parliament, the NLD is assured of obtaining the post of president for its lower house candidate U Htin Kyaw. But it will need the cooperation of smaller ethnic parties in a tight contest for the position of first vice president if its upper house candidate, Henry Van Thio, is to defeat U Myint Swe who is likely to be able to count on 207 seats between the military bloc and the Union Solidarity and Development Party.
U Tate Naing, secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, told The Myanmar Times that all former political prisoners would be disappointed with the nomination of U Myint Swe who was Yangon regional commander during the suppression of the 2007 “Saffron” uprising led by monks.
“He was involved in and led the violent crackdown on the students, monks and people. We are surprised at his nomination by the military representatives and upset that he will be vice president,” he said.
Having a hardline military proxy as vice president would be a “challenge” for the NLD government, U Tate Naing said.
The US confirmed that U Myint Swe is among dozens of military-related and business figures on the Treasury Department’s sanctioned list of “Specially Designated Nationals”, with whom US citizens and companies cannot do business.
State Department spokesperson John Kirby told a Washington briefing on March 11 that the Obama administration remained committed to supporting Myanmar’s democratic transition. But he also singled out the reservation of 25 percent of parliamentary seats for the military as a “structural and systemic flaw” in the constitution.
“We have made our concerns known about this individual and this process, quite frankly, and we’ll monitor it going forward,” Mr Kirby said.
Some diplomats and international aid workers in Yangon saw the nomination of U Myint Swe as a sign of serious tensions between the military and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi that were not resolved in three sessions of transition talks she held with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
An ethnic Mon, U Myint Swe is reported to be related by marriage to former senior general U Than Shwe, raising questions about the enduring influence of the former junta leader who also met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
With the Tatmadaw still mounting offensives in the north against ethnic armed groups, and the military controlling three key ministries, the NLD leader will have her work cut out in pursuing her goal of “national reconciliation”, diplomats said.
U Tun Tun Hein, an NLD spokesperson, noted that the party was concerned about the role U Myint Swe would play in the important National Defence and Security Council where the military has a majority of its 11 members. He would be judged by his actions, he said.
“Some politicians say [U Myint Swe] … is a military hardliner. We don’t want to talk now about the future. Let’s talk about him after voting for the president,” the spokesperson said.
Beyond his reputation as a military strongman who, as Yangon chief minister, deployed thuggish vigilantes to crack down on student protests last year, U Myint Swe has come under fire for his ties to “crony” businessmen and lack of transparency in conducting tenders.
Daw Nyo Nyo Thin, a former member of the Yangon Region Hluttaw, said U Myint Swe had not implemented reforms and failed as chief minister, a position appointed by the president.
“The Yangon new city project damaged the government’s image. If he really wants ‘change’, he needs to try to work in accordance with democratic standards and carry out his job with transparency,” she said.
On social media, U Myint Swe was slammed as the “red armband” candidate, referring to the paramilitary forces deployed in Yangon last year against student demonstrators.
Questions remain over his eligibility on technical grounds. In 2012 he fell foul of the same constitutional provision that bars Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency, because his son-in-law was an Australian citizen. However Reuters quoted official sources as saying he had since given up his foreign citizenship.
U Ko Ko Naing, a USDP MP, defended the choice of U Myint Swe.
“He can lead the country successfully because he served as a general in the military and also as Yangon’s chief minister. We believe he can do his best based on his experience,” the MP said.
