Myanmar prez axes ministers, stirs talk of reshuffle

Myanmar President Thein Sein has removed two deputy ministers with economically important portfolios in the first significant changes to his quasi-civilian government since it took office 15 months ago, reinforcing speculation a broader cabinet reshuffle to push reforms may be in the works.

Myanmar President Thein Sein has removed two deputy ministers with economically important portfolios in the first significant changes to his quasi-civilian government since it took office 15 months ago, reinforcing speculation a broader cabinet reshuffle to push reforms may be in the works.

Tint Lwin of the ministry of post and telecommunication and Soe Aung, who held the deputy energy portfolio, have been “allowed to resign from their posts of their own volition”, the president’s office said in an announcement in Wednesday’s state-run newspapers.

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The terms “of their own violation” or “for health reasons” are euphemisms used by official media when a minister or senior official is purged.

There was no comment on who would replace them or on the reason for their resignations but a senior ministry official in the administrative capital, Naypyitaw, said it could be part of the president’s drive to court more foreign investment.

Rumours of a major reshuffle have circulated for two months, with speculation rife that five ministers could be sacked.