Ex-Military, Police Officers Fill Chief Minister Posts in Junta’s New Govt

Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, newly elevated to the presidency by the junta-installed Union Parliament, has filled all state and regional chief minister posts with former military and police officers, further tightening his control over the country’s administrative structure. The nominees were approved on Monday without debate or dissent in the regime’s rubber-stamp regional and state legislatures.

The new lineup of regional chief ministers includes former Deputy Police Chief Aung Naing Thu in Yangon; Myo Aung in Mandalay; former Deputy Police Chief Myo Swe Win in Bago; retired Major General Ko Lay in Sagaing; former Deputy Police Chief Tin Ko Ko in Magwe; former Major General Zaw Naing Oo in Tanintharyi; and Aye Kyaw in Ayeyarwady.

In the ethnic states, the junta leader appointed or retained similarly aligned figures as chief ministers: Khet Htein Nan in Kachin; ex-Brigadier General Saw Myint Oo in Karen; Ang Maw in Karenni (Kayah); former Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Wong Sone Htang, an ex-military medical officer, in Chin; Brigadier General Aung Win Than in Mon; former Brigadier General Naing Oo in Rakhine; and former Lieutenant Colonel Sai Htein Soe in Shan.