Karen State Government Approves Key Ministries – Military to Boss Security and Border Affairs
The Karen State parliament approved six key ministries on April 7 that will be run by two independent academics, a representative of the military, Members of Parliament from the National League for Democracy and the Union Solidarity and Development Party.
Nan Khin Htwe Myint, the Chief Minister of Karen State proposed the successful candidates that would lead the six ministries.
The National League for Democracy’s Dr. Tin Win Kyaw, the newly appointed Social Affairs Minister spoke to Karen News about his priorities.
“I want to prioritize education and health. At least to get the basic system up and running, for example, making basic education more systematic. However, we still don’t know how the central government will lay down policies on these issues. I want to reaffirm to our fellow citizens that we will strike to make the situation better than what it is now.”
The heads of the six ministries are: U Than Naing, (NLD), Finance and Municipal, Dr. Tin Win Kyaw, (NLD), Social Affair, Saw Myint Oo, (USDP), Agriculture, Breeding and Irrigation, Brigadier General Aung Lwin, military representative to lead Security and Border Affair Ministry, U Saw Pyi Tha, independent academic, Environment, Forestry, Mining and Transportation Ministry and U Soe Hlaing, independent academic to lead the Electric and Industry Ministry.
Dr. Tin Win Kyaw said that he will work with the ethnic armed groups in an attempt to deliver education and health services in areas now under the control of the groups. Although he said these works will be linked to the overall peace process.
Dr. Tin Win Kyaw pointed out that the implementation of these services cannot wait until everything is resolved by the peace process.
Meanwhile, on April 9, the Karen National Union’s Chairman General Mutu Sae Poe and General Secretary Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win met with the Karen State Government’s Chief Minister, Nan Khin Htwe Myint, in Hpa-an.
Sources from the KNU said that Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win briefed the State government about its peace process and how it could cooperate with the current government to build a durable peace.
KNU sources said that both sides had an open and frank discussion about the Karen struggle, the building of a federal union and their future cooperation.
