Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RANGOON73
2009-02-05 06:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: KYAW THU ON CABINET RESHUFFLE, FUTURE OF
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UNCLAS RANGOON 000073
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: KYAW THU ON CABINET RESHUFFLE, FUTURE OF
TCG
UNCLAS RANGOON 000073
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: KYAW THU ON CABINET RESHUFFLE, FUTURE OF
TCG
1. (SBU) At a February 4 diplomatic reception, Tripartite
Core Group (TCG) Chairman Kyaw Thu informed the Charge that
he has left his position as Deputy Foreign Minister and
replaced U Than Nyunt as the head of Burma's Civil Service
Selection and Training Board, a Cabinet-level position. Kyaw
Thu reported that U Than Nyunt, Minister of Construction
Major General Saw Tun, and Minister for Immigration and
Manpower Major General Saw Lwin had all retired. For the
moment at least, Minister of Electric Power 2 Major General
Khin Maung Myint will also serve as Construction Minister,
and Minister of Home Affairs Major General Khin Yi will
concurrently cover Immigration and Manpower.
2. (SBU) Curiously, state media has not yet reported these
Cabinet changes, as has been the case in the past. However,
the February 5 edition of the regime-daily New Light of
Myanmar newspaper features a captioned photo of Kyaw Thu that
describes him as the civil service chief, with no mention
that his tenure is less than one-week old.
3. (SBU) Kyaw Thu told the Charge that all three of the
ministers who were replaced were in their 70s and have been
showing signs of aging. He stressed that their retirement
was due to their age and had nothing to do with the 2010
elections. For his part, Kyaw Thu noted that he had no
experience with personnel. The directive for his move came
from above, he said, and he will comply. Kyaw Thu added that
he was relieved he did not get the immigration post, given
the Rohingya issue on the radar.
4. (SBU) Kyaw Thu confirmed he will retain the TCG
chairmanship, but said he will likely spend most of this time
in Nay Pyi Taw, coming to Rangoon perhaps every couple of
weeks. He said he intends to create a strong team of TCG
subordinates in Rangoon so he can handle most issues by
phone. Kyaw Thu confirmed he will attend the February 9 Post
Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan (PONREPP) launch in
Bangkok. He relayed to the CDA that a key GOB message at the
PONREPP event will be that donors who want the TCG to
continue beyond July will have to commit funding beyond that
point. Otherwise, according to Kyaw Thu, the GOB will see no
need to continue the TCG.
VAJDA
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: KYAW THU ON CABINET RESHUFFLE, FUTURE OF
TCG
1. (SBU) At a February 4 diplomatic reception, Tripartite
Core Group (TCG) Chairman Kyaw Thu informed the Charge that
he has left his position as Deputy Foreign Minister and
replaced U Than Nyunt as the head of Burma's Civil Service
Selection and Training Board, a Cabinet-level position. Kyaw
Thu reported that U Than Nyunt, Minister of Construction
Major General Saw Tun, and Minister for Immigration and
Manpower Major General Saw Lwin had all retired. For the
moment at least, Minister of Electric Power 2 Major General
Khin Maung Myint will also serve as Construction Minister,
and Minister of Home Affairs Major General Khin Yi will
concurrently cover Immigration and Manpower.
2. (SBU) Curiously, state media has not yet reported these
Cabinet changes, as has been the case in the past. However,
the February 5 edition of the regime-daily New Light of
Myanmar newspaper features a captioned photo of Kyaw Thu that
describes him as the civil service chief, with no mention
that his tenure is less than one-week old.
3. (SBU) Kyaw Thu told the Charge that all three of the
ministers who were replaced were in their 70s and have been
showing signs of aging. He stressed that their retirement
was due to their age and had nothing to do with the 2010
elections. For his part, Kyaw Thu noted that he had no
experience with personnel. The directive for his move came
from above, he said, and he will comply. Kyaw Thu added that
he was relieved he did not get the immigration post, given
the Rohingya issue on the radar.
4. (SBU) Kyaw Thu confirmed he will retain the TCG
chairmanship, but said he will likely spend most of this time
in Nay Pyi Taw, coming to Rangoon perhaps every couple of
weeks. He said he intends to create a strong team of TCG
subordinates in Rangoon so he can handle most issues by
phone. Kyaw Thu confirmed he will attend the February 9 Post
Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan (PONREPP) launch in
Bangkok. He relayed to the CDA that a key GOB message at the
PONREPP event will be that donors who want the TCG to
continue beyond July will have to commit funding beyond that
point. Otherwise, according to Kyaw Thu, the GOB will see no
need to continue the TCG.
VAJDA