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VP pushed out over corruption, resistance to reforms
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Zomi for Federalization and Democratization of Burma
May 25, 2012, 11:24:36 PM5/25/12
to
=====
Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo is a corrupt man. He have been pushed
out over corruption and resistance to reforms.
Electric Power Ministry No. 1 Minister Zaw Min must follow in TAMO's
footsteps. People are protesting because of his corruption. And Aung
Thaung must go.
=====
VP pushed out over corruption, resistance to reforms
By VICTORIA HEATHER
Published: 24 May 2012
==
Photo:
22135.htm
Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo sprinkles fragrant water at a plaque
during the opening ceremony of a children's hospital in Rangoon on 13
March 2011. (Reuters)
==
The hardliners of Burma’s former military regime are being offered
lucrative financial incentives to step down and allow the government’s
reform process to continue, says a Rangoon-based foreign analyst.
The analyst, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, says Burma’s Vice
President Tin Aung Myint Oo pocketed a sizeable chunk of the
commission from the controversial $US3.6 billion Myitsone dam project
in exchange for his resignation.
Sources close to the government say Tin Aung Myint Oo claimed around
$US300 million in official and unofficial commission payments, which
include three percent of the commission from the $US3.6 billion
project plus additional payments valued at about $US50 million.
The analyst says the trade-off for Tin Aung Myint Oo’s resignation is
retaining the spoils he plundered from the resource-rich country.
“He was a very corrupt person and he took money out of the Myitsone
project,” the analyst said, adding President Thein Sein’s decision to
stop the controversial dam project was a serious setback for the vice
president.
“There was really no space for him in the new Myanmar [Burma] that is
being built, so he’s resigned,” the analyst says.
“It’s not just Tin Aung Myint Oo who has lost, it’s an entire class of
people who refused to change and have been forced to change, or jump
from the boat.”
Australia economist and Burmese expert Sean Turnell said offering
financial incentives to hardliners was a common strategy throughout
Asia.
“In a sense you buy out the old regime players and that’s less
damaging than some sort of fight,” says Turnell.
However, Turnell said the Burmese government still suffered from
systemic corruption.
“More problematic is the way all the way down the chain and the extent
in which the military still remain very hands on within the ministries
and within those enterprises,” said the economist.
A notoriously corrupt and brutal political figure, Tin Aung Myint Oo
built substantial personal wealth through his connections with Chinese
and Burmese tycoons.
Sources close to the government say he pocketed over 75 per cent of
the commission, which is usually three percent, pledged for the $US3.6
billion pledged to the Myitsone dam project.
The vice president was a former chief of the Trade Council, which
oversaw export and import licences, and was the former chairman of the
Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) — the military’s economic arm.
Sources close to the Burmese government say the former hardliner was
pushed out of government for his resistance to reforms and overt
corruption, including support for controversial deals with the
Chinese.
Sources claim Tin Aung Myint Oo has clashed with the president by
continuing to support the Myitsone prjoect, despite President Thein
Sein ordering a stop to the dam’s construction in response to public
outcry over the potential environmental impact.
The Myitsone dam is a US$ 3.6 billion joint project of the Myanmar
Industry Ministry, Asia World and the China Power Investment
Corporation (CPI) to build a 3,600 megawatt-dam in Burma’s northern
Kachin state to supply power to the Chinese province of Yunnan.
Former military general Than Shwe’s notorious second-in-command is
just one of the hardliners from the country’s former junta who are
being told to reform or leave the government, the analyst said.
“Over the past two years, everyone who was closer to the moderates has
gone up and everyone who was close to the hardliners has gone down, or
they have transformed into moderates,” the analyst says.
However, the hardliners will get to keep their share of the spoils
plundered from the resource-rich country if they agree to step down
and make way for a new wave of moderate reformists headed by President
Thein Sein, say sources close to the Burmese government.
“As frustrating as it is, if those people have to keep their money in
order for the reform process to continue, then so be it,” the analyst
says.
Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) U Tin Oo said he
had heard rumours that Tin Aung Myint Oo was among over members of the
former military regime who would be dropped from President Thein
Sein’s government as part of a cabinet reshuffle.
“We have heard rumours that former hardliners will no longer be taking
part in coming activities in their administration,” Tin Oo told
reporters in Rangoon.
According to a report in the AFP, the former vice president is said be
staying in a monastery for the time being; however, the government has
yet to officially confirm Tin Aung Myint Oo’s resignation.
Sources in Rangoon say retiring to a monastery is a tactic frequently
used by former politicians who want to stay out of the public eye.
Business sources in Rangoon say overt corruption, controversial
business deals and resistance to reforms, including the decision to
allow Nobel peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to enter parliament
all led to the political demise of Tin Aung Myint Oo.
Tin Oo said the vice president was deeply involved with former ruling
general Than Shwe’s military regime.
“Most of the former generals are very much corrupt and involved in
rampant corruption and bribery, that’s why they’re trying to save
their skins and not expose it,” he said.
Burma watchers say Tin Aung Myint Oo was considered to be one of the
most corrupt of the ex-generals serving in the current administration
and the government hopes his removal will appease the international
community and encourage the removal of more western sanctions.
Tin Oo said the government was delaying announcing the formal
retirement of the vice president while it decided who would take his
place. In the event of his resignation, the vice president’s
replacement would be chosen by unelected military personnel, who make
up one quarter of the Burmese parliament.
Sources close to the Burmese government say this is the start of a
major reshuffle inside Burma’s government, as President Thein Sein’s
cabinet seeks to remove members with controversial links to the former
military regime from power.
Tin Oo said another possible casualty of a cabinet reshuffled could be
ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) member, U Aung
Thaung.
While the government has still not made an official announcement about
his position, Burmese media organisations have reportedly been banned
from reporting the speculation.
The NLD chairman said the government would most likely delay
announcing the resignation of the vice president until parliament
reconvened in July.
Editor’s note: A version of this story was temporarily published on
the DVB website on May 24th; however, the draft had not been the most
recent copy sent by the reporter inside Burma. The article has since
been updated.
-Victoria Heather is a pseudonym for a journalist working in Burma.
======
COMMENTS
Ohn says:
May 24, 2012 at 8:45 am
Tin Aung Myint Oo and Aung Thaung Two out of thousands and
thousands of evil, corrupt “Democratic”.
Shwe Mann is squeaky clean of course as the west likes him. The
Irrawaddy, DVB, Mizzima like him. So he is OK.
He and his son’s loots are ligit. Let’s see who ends up in Awizi.
Than-di-ka pyitsi.
Could someone list what does this parliament crap do regardless of
which particular idiots are in????
Apart from having to pay Papa Chinese billions of dollars for
building huge concrete blocks idiots take pride in.
==
maungg maungg says:
May 24, 2012 at 2:55 pm
8 lones general and USDP chairmans are known to be of very corrupt
persons in Burma long ago. He thinks that his honourable title proves
his love for the country. Very wrong. His love for the money may be
correct. In the world of peaceful transition, these people have no
place , even worst for their families and relatives. They will be
avoided or outcast in the social circles. Good man stay at least and
the bad man goes down. This is a good transition for Burma. We love
it. Cheers.
===
MOE says:
May 24, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Very sad to hear about the VP.We do not need any slow or delay
over the reform . People need the immediate economy recovery
ASAP.MR.VP,do not made nay harder than we already
have.Remember,average burmese people live with US one dollar per a
day. VP and others so call hardliner kidnapped the nation and now they
want ransom.PLEASE, MR:VP BE A REASONABLE MAN, THE NATION AND PEOPLE
ARE WATCHING WHAT YOU GOING TO DO.
===
Khin says:
May 25, 2012 at 3:01 am
This must be another of those Asian values thing,to pay USD 300
million to an ex-murderer to retire in peaace and comfort!
The whole world is surely very happy with this NEW found Asian way
forward to progress and prosperity!
now General Tin Aung Myint Oo only has to wait for his creator to
deal with him,is he lucky or unlucky?
http://www.dvb.no/news/vp-pushed-out-over-corruption-resistance-to-reforms/22135
=====
Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo is a corrupt man. He have been pushed
out over corruption and resistance to reforms.
Electric Power Ministry No. 1 Minister Zaw Min must follow in TAMO's
footsteps. People are protesting because of his corruption. And Aung
Thaung must go.
=====
VP pushed out over corruption, resistance to reforms
By VICTORIA HEATHER
Published: 24 May 2012
==
Photo:
22135.htm
Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo sprinkles fragrant water at a plaque
during the opening ceremony of a children's hospital in Rangoon on 13
March 2011. (Reuters)
==
The hardliners of Burma’s former military regime are being offered
lucrative financial incentives to step down and allow the government’s
reform process to continue, says a Rangoon-based foreign analyst.
The analyst, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, says Burma’s Vice
President Tin Aung Myint Oo pocketed a sizeable chunk of the
commission from the controversial $US3.6 billion Myitsone dam project
in exchange for his resignation.
Sources close to the government say Tin Aung Myint Oo claimed around
$US300 million in official and unofficial commission payments, which
include three percent of the commission from the $US3.6 billion
project plus additional payments valued at about $US50 million.
The analyst says the trade-off for Tin Aung Myint Oo’s resignation is
retaining the spoils he plundered from the resource-rich country.
“He was a very corrupt person and he took money out of the Myitsone
project,” the analyst said, adding President Thein Sein’s decision to
stop the controversial dam project was a serious setback for the vice
president.
“There was really no space for him in the new Myanmar [Burma] that is
being built, so he’s resigned,” the analyst says.
“It’s not just Tin Aung Myint Oo who has lost, it’s an entire class of
people who refused to change and have been forced to change, or jump
from the boat.”
Australia economist and Burmese expert Sean Turnell said offering
financial incentives to hardliners was a common strategy throughout
Asia.
“In a sense you buy out the old regime players and that’s less
damaging than some sort of fight,” says Turnell.
However, Turnell said the Burmese government still suffered from
systemic corruption.
“More problematic is the way all the way down the chain and the extent
in which the military still remain very hands on within the ministries
and within those enterprises,” said the economist.
A notoriously corrupt and brutal political figure, Tin Aung Myint Oo
built substantial personal wealth through his connections with Chinese
and Burmese tycoons.
Sources close to the government say he pocketed over 75 per cent of
the commission, which is usually three percent, pledged for the $US3.6
billion pledged to the Myitsone dam project.
The vice president was a former chief of the Trade Council, which
oversaw export and import licences, and was the former chairman of the
Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) — the military’s economic arm.
Sources close to the Burmese government say the former hardliner was
pushed out of government for his resistance to reforms and overt
corruption, including support for controversial deals with the
Chinese.
Sources claim Tin Aung Myint Oo has clashed with the president by
continuing to support the Myitsone prjoect, despite President Thein
Sein ordering a stop to the dam’s construction in response to public
outcry over the potential environmental impact.
The Myitsone dam is a US$ 3.6 billion joint project of the Myanmar
Industry Ministry, Asia World and the China Power Investment
Corporation (CPI) to build a 3,600 megawatt-dam in Burma’s northern
Kachin state to supply power to the Chinese province of Yunnan.
Former military general Than Shwe’s notorious second-in-command is
just one of the hardliners from the country’s former junta who are
being told to reform or leave the government, the analyst said.
“Over the past two years, everyone who was closer to the moderates has
gone up and everyone who was close to the hardliners has gone down, or
they have transformed into moderates,” the analyst says.
However, the hardliners will get to keep their share of the spoils
plundered from the resource-rich country if they agree to step down
and make way for a new wave of moderate reformists headed by President
Thein Sein, say sources close to the Burmese government.
“As frustrating as it is, if those people have to keep their money in
order for the reform process to continue, then so be it,” the analyst
says.
Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) U Tin Oo said he
had heard rumours that Tin Aung Myint Oo was among over members of the
former military regime who would be dropped from President Thein
Sein’s government as part of a cabinet reshuffle.
“We have heard rumours that former hardliners will no longer be taking
part in coming activities in their administration,” Tin Oo told
reporters in Rangoon.
According to a report in the AFP, the former vice president is said be
staying in a monastery for the time being; however, the government has
yet to officially confirm Tin Aung Myint Oo’s resignation.
Sources in Rangoon say retiring to a monastery is a tactic frequently
used by former politicians who want to stay out of the public eye.
Business sources in Rangoon say overt corruption, controversial
business deals and resistance to reforms, including the decision to
allow Nobel peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to enter parliament
all led to the political demise of Tin Aung Myint Oo.
Tin Oo said the vice president was deeply involved with former ruling
general Than Shwe’s military regime.
“Most of the former generals are very much corrupt and involved in
rampant corruption and bribery, that’s why they’re trying to save
their skins and not expose it,” he said.
Burma watchers say Tin Aung Myint Oo was considered to be one of the
most corrupt of the ex-generals serving in the current administration
and the government hopes his removal will appease the international
community and encourage the removal of more western sanctions.
Tin Oo said the government was delaying announcing the formal
retirement of the vice president while it decided who would take his
place. In the event of his resignation, the vice president’s
replacement would be chosen by unelected military personnel, who make
up one quarter of the Burmese parliament.
Sources close to the Burmese government say this is the start of a
major reshuffle inside Burma’s government, as President Thein Sein’s
cabinet seeks to remove members with controversial links to the former
military regime from power.
Tin Oo said another possible casualty of a cabinet reshuffled could be
ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) member, U Aung
Thaung.
While the government has still not made an official announcement about
his position, Burmese media organisations have reportedly been banned
from reporting the speculation.
The NLD chairman said the government would most likely delay
announcing the resignation of the vice president until parliament
reconvened in July.
Editor’s note: A version of this story was temporarily published on
the DVB website on May 24th; however, the draft had not been the most
recent copy sent by the reporter inside Burma. The article has since
been updated.
-Victoria Heather is a pseudonym for a journalist working in Burma.
======
COMMENTS
Ohn says:
May 24, 2012 at 8:45 am
Tin Aung Myint Oo and Aung Thaung Two out of thousands and
thousands of evil, corrupt “Democratic”.
Shwe Mann is squeaky clean of course as the west likes him. The
Irrawaddy, DVB, Mizzima like him. So he is OK.
He and his son’s loots are ligit. Let’s see who ends up in Awizi.
Than-di-ka pyitsi.
Could someone list what does this parliament crap do regardless of
which particular idiots are in????
Apart from having to pay Papa Chinese billions of dollars for
building huge concrete blocks idiots take pride in.
==
maungg maungg says:
May 24, 2012 at 2:55 pm
8 lones general and USDP chairmans are known to be of very corrupt
persons in Burma long ago. He thinks that his honourable title proves
his love for the country. Very wrong. His love for the money may be
correct. In the world of peaceful transition, these people have no
place , even worst for their families and relatives. They will be
avoided or outcast in the social circles. Good man stay at least and
the bad man goes down. This is a good transition for Burma. We love
it. Cheers.
===
MOE says:
May 24, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Very sad to hear about the VP.We do not need any slow or delay
over the reform . People need the immediate economy recovery
ASAP.MR.VP,do not made nay harder than we already
have.Remember,average burmese people live with US one dollar per a
day. VP and others so call hardliner kidnapped the nation and now they
want ransom.PLEASE, MR:VP BE A REASONABLE MAN, THE NATION AND PEOPLE
ARE WATCHING WHAT YOU GOING TO DO.
===
Khin says:
May 25, 2012 at 3:01 am
This must be another of those Asian values thing,to pay USD 300
million to an ex-murderer to retire in peaace and comfort!
The whole world is surely very happy with this NEW found Asian way
forward to progress and prosperity!
now General Tin Aung Myint Oo only has to wait for his creator to
deal with him,is he lucky or unlucky?
http://www.dvb.no/news/vp-pushed-out-over-corruption-resistance-to-reforms/22135
=====
Zomi for Federalization and Democratization of Burma
May 26, 2012, 1:11:51 PM5/26/12
to
=====
No criminal action was taken against the criminal corrupt Tin Aung
Myint Oo, while democracy activists have been sentenced to a 60-year
imprisonment. There is no RULE of law in Burma. Criminals who hold
high positions are ABOVE the law. Innocent un-armed downtrodden people
are UNDER the law.
Aung Thaung has to go, too.
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