Burma’s cabinet reshuffle late Saturday saw the removal of two experienced diplomatic figures in a move that is seen as cementing the government’s hardline stance amid mounting international pressure to break its political deadlock with the opposition National League for Democracy.
Win Aung, who served as the foreign minister from November 1997 was dismissed, along with his deputy Khin Maung Win.
Senior military officer Maj-General Nyan Win was picked to replace the minister and Colonel Maung Myint was selected as his deputy.
Little is known about the two new cabinet members.
Sources said the major-general was regarded among his colleagues in Rangoon as a “smart” soldier but that he was not well known among diplomats inside and outside the country.
Burma’s new foreign minister is therefore expected to face crucial tests of strength in the United Nations General Assembly and the Asia-Europe meeting (Asem) to be held on October 8 and 9 in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.
The minister was ordered to attend Asem on behalf of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt after the European Union barred Burma’s heads of government from participating.
Being foreign minister of a junta is not an easy task, Win Aung once said, considering the negative press attached to Burma’s domestic political wrangles and unceasing international criticism.
“My face is like a dartboard,” he once told reporters when asked about his personal feelings over the barrage of questions fired at him over the detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Burma has been stuck in a political quagmire since a bloody demonstration in May 2003 that led to the most recent house arrest of Suu Kyi.
The outgoing minister hinted several times that Suu Kyi might be released but she never was. His comments, although not binding in terms of foreign policy, revealed much more than any other Burmese officials.
Sources said the foreign ministry reshuffle reflected military leader General Than Shwe’s belief that the nation needed a more reticent ministerial-level spokesperson to deal with the international community.
The reshuffle also indicated that Than Shwe, chairman of the junta’s State Peace and Development Council, has taken a firmer grip on power. Win Aung was generally considered a strong ally of General Khin Nyunt, the premier – whose position in Burmese politics has recently been destabilised.
Since assuming the high-ranking post in August 2003, Khin Nyunt championed political reform, pushing forward his seven-point road map towards democracy and national conciliation that was intended to culminate in a general election.
Sources said Khin Nyunt and Win Aung discussed the road map at length and ways of drafting a constitution but were continually frustrated in their plans.
Saturday’s reshuffle also affected other cabinet positions and effectively handed the military a cabinet majority.
Colonel Zaw Min was handpicked to be the new Minister of Cooperatives. He will replace Maj-General Htay Oo following the latter’s transferral to the Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry as a successor to Nyunt Tin.
Meanwhile, Brig-General Tin Naing Thein will head the Ministry of Commerce as his predecessor Brig-General Pyi Zone moves to a vacancy within the Prime Minister’s Office created by Maj-General Thein Swe’s appointment as transport minister. He in turn will replace outgoing Transport Minister Hla Myint Swe.
Labour Minister Tin Win, the only civilian involved in the shake-up, will also be transferred to the position of minister at the Prime Minister’s Office.
State-run media reported yesterday that the cabinet reshuffle was effective immediately upon its announcement late Saturday night.
This is the 16th official cabinet of the junta but the first reshuffle since Khin Nyunt became prime minister in mid-2003.