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Dissident media and some international news organizations reported earlier this month that Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo had resigned or temporarily stepped down, citing unidentified government sources and family members. Myanmar's government hasn't officially acknowledged any departure of the vice president, and officials contacted declined to comment on the record.
However, a government official familiar with the situation confirmed in response to questions that Mr. Tin Aung Myint Oo, who is 61 years old, was out on "medical leave" with "a serious medical problem" and "may be" considering resignation. The official declined to provide further details.
Specifics about the vice president's location, or his ailment, remain unknown. Some news organizations, including a prominent Thailand-based dissident publication called the Irrawaddy, have reported that he is suffering from throat cancer, while others say he is in a monastery about 50 kilometers, or 30 miles, outside the commercial capital of Yangon. Efforts to locate him through calls to monasteries in the area and to government offices in the capital of Naypyitaw were unsuccessful.
Local journalists say they have been warned by government officials not to report on the matter, despite promises by authorities to further relax censorship after loosening some media controls over the past year. Some publications have ignored the admonitions and published stories summarizing the rumors without punishment, however.
The uncertainty surrounding the vice president's situation runs counter to expectations of greater transparency in Myanmar's new government, which took power after a harsh military junta stepped down last year. Although the government is still dominated by current and former soldiers, it has eased curbs on the Internet, freed political prisoners and embraced the election of dissident Aung San Suu Kyi to parliament, winning kudos from governments world-wide. Last week, the Obama administration suspended key sanctions against Myanmar imposed years ago.
Yet many investors and nongovernmental groups say privately they still fear Myanmar's government is unstable or unpredictable, with reports of internal divisions among reformers and some former military leaders. Some investors have said the lack of transparency extends to other parts of the political system, and that it's difficult if not impossible to get details about some laws being discussed.
The vice president's case "is a reminder of the Myanmar before this new government came to power—and it's a reminder of the guessing game about fundamental political realities that we all played for so long in that country," said Michael Montesano, a regional expert at the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. "The fact that we're back in that position is troubling."
Many political analysts believe Mr. Tin Aung Myint Oo could be getting pushed aside to make way for a more moderate figure, possibly as part of a wider reshuffle of Myanmar's cabinet following a parliamentary by-election last month that was overwhelmingly dominated by Ms. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy opposition party. In the wake of that vote, presidential adviser Ko Ko Hlaing told The Wall Street Journal that remaining hard-liners within the government needed to more actively embrace change in the country "because this is the new reality."
On other occasions, officials have denied there is a rift between reformers and hard-liners.
Mr. Tin Aung Myint Oo was formerly one of the highest-ranking members of the country's old military junta, and he is routinely described in Myanmar's dissident press as a hard-liner with close ties to some of the country's wealthiest businessmen. He became vice president after being selected for the post by a bloc of military officers in parliament last year.
Along with speculation about Mr. Tin Aung Myint Oo's status, there is also growing debate over who would succeed him if he does officially resign. Although political analysts say the vice president role comes with limited powers in Myanmar, it could take on high importance if current President Thein Sein, who is 67 and believed to suffer from heart disease, is unable to complete his current term, which ends in 2015.
One possible choice, Myanmar experts say, is Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann, who many consider to be the government's second-most powerful figure behind Mr. Thein Sein. Such a move could put the speaker, a former military officer believed to be pushing some reforms, in position to be a front-runner for president in elections in 2015. Attempts to reach Mr. Shwe Mann were unsuccessful.
Some analysts believe Ms. Suu Kyi could also be a possibility, though it would likely require a change to Myanmar's constitution, which blocks citizens who married foreigners—as Ms. Suu Kyi did—from posts such as president or vice president. Another possibility is that Ms. Suu Kyi could become house speaker if Mr. Shwe Mann gives up the job.
A spokesman for Ms. Suu Kyi's political party, Nyan Win, said she had not been offered any new post. "If there is an offer, the party will discuss it," he said.
Under Myanmar's political system, the military retains the right to choose one vice president, and is expected to get to pick a replacement if Mr. Tin Aung Myint Oo does indeed resign. The country also has a second vice president, an ethnic Shan doctor who is believed to hold little power.
—Celine Fernandez contributed to this article.
Write to Patrick Barta at patrick.barta@wsj.com
Myanmar's Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo attends the opening ceremony of a children's hospital in Yangon March 13, 2011.
By PATRICK BARTA
A mystery over the fate of Myanmar's vice president is raising concerns about the continuing lack of transparency in the Myanmar political system, despite major political and economic reforms over the past year.Dissident media and some international news organizations reported earlier this month that Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo had resigned or temporarily stepped down, citing unidentified government sources and family members. Myanmar's government hasn't officially acknowledged any departure of the vice president, and officials contacted declined to comment on the record.
However, a government official familiar with the situation confirmed in response to questions that Mr. Tin Aung Myint Oo, who is 61 years old, was out on "medical leave" with "a serious medical problem" and "may be" considering resignation. The official declined to provide further details.
Specifics about the vice president's location, or his ailment, remain unknown. Some news organizations, including a prominent Thailand-based dissident publication called the Irrawaddy, have reported that he is suffering from throat cancer, while others say he is in a monastery about 50 kilometers, or 30 miles, outside the commercial capital of Yangon. Efforts to locate him through calls to monasteries in the area and to government offices in the capital of Naypyitaw were unsuccessful.
Local journalists say they have been warned by government officials not to report on the matter, despite promises by authorities to further relax censorship after loosening some media controls over the past year. Some publications have ignored the admonitions and published stories summarizing the rumors without punishment, however.
The uncertainty surrounding the vice president's situation runs counter to expectations of greater transparency in Myanmar's new government, which took power after a harsh military junta stepped down last year. Although the government is still dominated by current and former soldiers, it has eased curbs on the Internet, freed political prisoners and embraced the election of dissident Aung San Suu Kyi to parliament, winning kudos from governments world-wide. Last week, the Obama administration suspended key sanctions against Myanmar imposed years ago.
Tin Aung Myint Oo
- Born 1950
- Served as army Quartermaster General; military regime "Secretary One" (fifth-ranking leader)
- Retired from military and elected to parliament in 2010
- Selected vice president 2011
- Left vice presidency for medical reasons 2012
- Widely regarded as close to military factions in Myanmar government
The vice president's case "is a reminder of the Myanmar before this new government came to power—and it's a reminder of the guessing game about fundamental political realities that we all played for so long in that country," said Michael Montesano, a regional expert at the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. "The fact that we're back in that position is troubling."
Many political analysts believe Mr. Tin Aung Myint Oo could be getting pushed aside to make way for a more moderate figure, possibly as part of a wider reshuffle of Myanmar's cabinet following a parliamentary by-election last month that was overwhelmingly dominated by Ms. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy opposition party. In the wake of that vote, presidential adviser Ko Ko Hlaing told The Wall Street Journal that remaining hard-liners within the government needed to more actively embrace change in the country "because this is the new reality."
On other occasions, officials have denied there is a rift between reformers and hard-liners.
Mr. Tin Aung Myint Oo was formerly one of the highest-ranking members of the country's old military junta, and he is routinely described in Myanmar's dissident press as a hard-liner with close ties to some of the country's wealthiest businessmen. He became vice president after being selected for the post by a bloc of military officers in parliament last year.
Along with speculation about Mr. Tin Aung Myint Oo's status, there is also growing debate over who would succeed him if he does officially resign. Although political analysts say the vice president role comes with limited powers in Myanmar, it could take on high importance if current President Thein Sein, who is 67 and believed to suffer from heart disease, is unable to complete his current term, which ends in 2015.
One possible choice, Myanmar experts say, is Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann, who many consider to be the government's second-most powerful figure behind Mr. Thein Sein. Such a move could put the speaker, a former military officer believed to be pushing some reforms, in position to be a front-runner for president in elections in 2015. Attempts to reach Mr. Shwe Mann were unsuccessful.
Some analysts believe Ms. Suu Kyi could also be a possibility, though it would likely require a change to Myanmar's constitution, which blocks citizens who married foreigners—as Ms. Suu Kyi did—from posts such as president or vice president. Another possibility is that Ms. Suu Kyi could become house speaker if Mr. Shwe Mann gives up the job.
A spokesman for Ms. Suu Kyi's political party, Nyan Win, said she had not been offered any new post. "If there is an offer, the party will discuss it," he said.
Under Myanmar's political system, the military retains the right to choose one vice president, and is expected to get to pick a replacement if Mr. Tin Aung Myint Oo does indeed resign. The country also has a second vice president, an ethnic Shan doctor who is believed to hold little power.
—Celine Fernandez contributed to this article.
Write to Patrick Barta at patrick.barta@wsj.com
A version of this article appeared May 26, 2012, on page A9 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Myanmar Mystery: A Missing Official.