Ohn Myint (politician)

In this Burmese name, the given name is Ohn Myint. There is no family name.
H.E.
Ohn Myint
အုန်းမြင့်
Minister for Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development
In office
March 2011 – 30 March 2016
Preceded byTin Naing Thein
Succeeded byAung Thu
Minister for Cooperatives
In office
March 2011 – September 2012
Preceded byTin Htut
Succeeded byKyaw Hsan
Pyithu Hluttaw MP
In office
April 2010 – March 2011
Preceded byConstituency established
ConstituencyHpakant Township, Kachin State
Majority29,426 (51.58%)
Personal details
BornBurma
NationalityBurmese
Political partyUnion Solidarity and Development Party
SpouseNu Nu Swe
ChildrenKyaw Thura, Kyaw Thiha
OccupationSoldier
Military service
AllegianceMyanmar
Branch/serviceMyanmar Army
Years of service- 2010
RankLieutenant general

Ohn Myint (Burmese: အုန်းမြင့်, born ) was the Burmese Minister for Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development from 2011 to 2016.[1] From March 2011 to August 2012, he concurrently served as the Minister of Cooperatives, until he vacated the post in September after a reshuffle of President Thein Sein's cabinet.[1][2]

Ohn Myint appears on the European Union list of sanctioned regime members, as he served as a member of the State Peace and Development Council, the military regime that ruled Burma until 2010.[3] He is married to Nu Nu Swe.[4]

In 2010, he resigned from the military, in order to stand as a Union Solidarity and Development Party candidate in the 2010 Burmese general election.[5] He won a Pyithu Hluttaw seat representing Hpakant Township in Kachin State by a majority of 29,426, defeating his primary opponent, Bawk Ja from the National Democratic Force, an ethnic Kachin activist.[6]

Controversy

In January 2014, a controversial video of Ohn Myint speaking to residents at Thityakauk village in Magway Region during a 28 January visit surfaced.[7] In that video, Ohn Myint used profanity and vulgar language toward the residents, who were pleading for clean potable water in the village.[7][8] He also threatened to slap and imprison residents who inquired about the government's water access initiatives.[9] In part of the diatribe, Ohn Myint said "I don’t care about anybody. Anyone can write and say anything about me. I’m not afraid to die, so what else should I be afraid of? I don’t give a damn. I am that kind of person. I don’t give shit."[10]

His colleague, Minister of Information, Aung Kyi, defended Ohn Myint's words.[7] In response, the National League for Democracy introduced a motion in the Pyithu Hluttaw to debate and reprimand Ohn Myint's language.[7] President Thein Sein has reportedly reprimanded Ohn Myint for his language, but activists continue to call for his dismissal.[10] On 3 February 2014, activists from the Democratic Force staged a protest near Mahabandoola Park in Yangon.[10] The residents of Thityagauk village have demanded his resignation.[9] Their application to stage a protest on 13 February was blocked by Magwe Region police.[11]

Military career

Ohn Myint is a former Lieutenant General and Chief of the Tatmadaw's Bureau of Special Operations-6.[1] He also served the following military posts:

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Cabinet". Alternative Asean Network on Burma. 21 November 2013. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  2. ^ "Myanmar reshuffles cabinet ministers, deputy ministers". Eleven Media. The Nation. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  3. ^ "BURMA: COMPARISON OF NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WITH THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION LIST OF SANCTIONED REGIME MEMBERS". Global Justice Center. 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  4. ^ "State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)" (PDF). Official Journal of the European Union. 29 April 2006. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  5. ^ Yan Pai (25 August 2010). "More Senior Officers Reportedly Resign to Join USDP". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  6. ^ "People's Assembly Constituencies". Alternative Asean Network on Burma. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d Thin Thiri (6 February 2014). "Myanmar Government Slammed for Defending 'Rude' Minister". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  8. ^ Kyaw Htun Naing; Nay Myo Tun (3 February 2014). "Myanmar Minister Draws Fire for Using Harsh Words on Villagers". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Magwe demands 'Slapper' Ohn Myint step down". Democratic Voice of Burma. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  10. ^ a b c Hein Ko Soe; Nan Myint (4 February 2014). "Thein Sein rebukes minister for vulgar remarks". Mizzima. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  11. ^ Si Thu Lwin; Ye Mon (20 February 2014). "Police stop protests against U Ohn Myint as pressure builds for action". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 21 February 2014.