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Burma Swears In Civilian President, Ending Overt Military Rule

   VOA News  March 30, 2011
   Myanmar's  junta  was  officially  disbanded Wednesday, March 30, 2011
   after  handing  over power to a new so-called civilian government, the
   latest  phase  of  a  transition  to  democracy  that  has been widely
   criticized as a sham. Myanmar President Thein Sein, righ

Photo: AP

   Myanmar's  junta  was  officially  disbanded Wednesday, March 30, 2011
   after  handing  over power to a new so-called civilian government, the
   latest  phase  of  a  transition  to  democracy  that  has been widely
   criticized  as  a  sham. Myanmar President Thein Sein, right, and Vice
   President Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, February 12, 2011.

   Burma's  state  media  say  the long-ruling junta has been "officially
   dissolved"  and  a  new  civilian-led  government  led by former Prime
   Minister Thein Sein has been sworn in to replace it.
   The  media  reports  said  the  ceremony  took  place Wednesday in the
   administrative  capital of Naypyitaw. The reports said Vice Presidents
   U  Tin  Aung  Oo  and Sai Mauk Kham were sworn in along with President
   Thein Sein.
   Despite  the  official  transfer  to civilian rule, the new government
   remains  firmly  in  the  hands of former top generals and their close
   allies.  Thein  Sein  is a former high-ranking general who gave up his
   uniform  only  last  year  to  run in the nation's first parliamentary
   elections in 20 years.
   Nyan   Win,  a  spokesman  for  the  opposition  National  League  for
   Democracy,  told  VOA  his  party  is  open  to  dialogue with the new
   government  but  is  always  concerned about military control over the
   government.  He  said  the  party  is not sure what to expect from the
   change of administration but it will "wait and see."
   Burma has been under military leadership since 1962 and has been ruled
   by  the  outgoing  junta, known as the State Law and Order Restoration
   Council, since 1988.
   The  French  news agency, AFP, quoted a Burmese official saying Senior
   General  Than  Shwe,  who has led the SLORC since 1992, did not attend
   Wednesday's  ceremony.  It  said  General Min Aung Hlaing attended the
   swearing-in  as  commander  in chief of the army, indicating that Than
   Shwe has stepped down from the top military post.
   Thein  Sein  was  chosen to serve as president at the first session of
   the  new  parliament.  He  is  also the head of the pro-military Union
   Solidarity  and  Development  Party, which won about 80 percent of the
   seats in the November elections.
   The  government  is hailing the changes as a major reform. But critics
   say  the  election  rules made it impossible for opposition parties to
   compete effectively, and the NLD, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, did not run
   at all.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP.

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