Myanmar Coup: Government Shake-up with Military backed Ministers now in Place, but Chief Justices and Anti-Corruption Personnel Remain

February 2, 2021 Posted by ASEAN Briefing Written by Chris Devonshire-Ellis Reading Time: 2 minutes

Op/Ed by Chris Devonshire-Ellis

The Myanmar Military Government, who overthrew the elected Myanmar Government yesterday after claims of voter fraud, has made immediate announcements as concerns various high-ranking positions.

General Min Aung Hlaing, the ‘Commanding Officer’ has issued a statement saying:

The Current Chief Justices and Justices of the Union Supreme Court remain in their position.

Anti-corruption Commission members, Justices of state and region courts, National Human Right Commission Chair, Deputy-Chair, and members remain in their positions.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs is now Wunna Maung Lwin;
Soe Htutbecomes the Minister of Home Affairs and head the Union Government Office;
The Minister of Planning, Finance & Industry is now Win Shein;
The Minister of Investment & Foreign Relations is now Aung Naing Oo; and
The Minister of Labour, Immigration & Population is now Myint Kyaing.

The Deputy Ministers of the State Counsellor Office, Union Government Office, Ministry of Planning Investment & Finance, Ministry of Investment & Foreign Relations, Myanmar Investment Commission, Ministry of Information, Ministry of National Resources and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Irrigation, Ministry of Energy & Electricity, Ministry of Transport & Communications, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Construction have all been relieved of their duties.

Immediately filling these positions means that the Military Coup has been effective and that civil matters are likely to return to normal quickly. The Military has said they will hold power for twelve months and then hold new elections.

Western governments have been quick to criticize the coup, with the new US President Biden immediately threatening sanctions. Nearer to home, the reaction has been more muted, with neighboring Thailand’s deputy prime minister, Prawit Wongsuwan, describing it as a “domestic issue”. India said it was “steadfast” in supporting Myanmar’s democratic transition and that the rule of law and democratic process must be upheld, while China’s foreign ministry described Myanmar as a “friendly neighbor” and said it hoped it would “handle the situation under the framework of the constitution and the law and maintain political and social stability”.