Myanmar adds civilians to senior government positions

Yangon - Myanmar has appointed five new deputy ministers, boosting the number of civilians in the government dominated by retired military officers, officials said Wednesday.

President Thein Sein named the five new deputy ministers Tuesday, boosting the cabinet to 41 members, The New Light of Myanmar said.

The appointees Aung Htoo, deputy minister of energy, Than TunAung, deputy minister of mines, Win Maw Tun, deputy minister of labour, Zaw Min Aung, deputy minister of science and technology and Tin Shwe, deputy minister of hotels and tourism.

Win Maw Tun is a businesswoman while Zaw Min Aung and Tin Shwe are both physicians. The backgrounds of Aung Htoo and Than Tun Aung were not immediately available.

"I think these new deputies will support the reform process," said a government official who asked to remain anonymous.

Last week, Thein Sein appointed retired army general Hsan Hsint as the new minister of religion, replacing General Thein Tun, who is reportedly being investigated for corruption.

The recent appointments appears to be aimed at cleaning up the cabinet’s performance with an eye to the 2015 general election, analysts said.

The government that took office 2011 is run by the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which is packed with former officers, many of whom served in the junta that ruled the country during 1988-2010.

There were only four civilians in the original cabinet lineup.//DPA