Aung San Suu Kyi will head four ministries in Myanmar’s new cabinet, according to a party memo posted to social media and confirmed by the National League for Democracy.
She will lead the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Electric Power and Energy and the Ministry of the President’s Office, spokesperson U Win Htein confirmed last night.
Suu Kyi is blocked from the presidency on account of her foreign children, but has said she plans to rule “above” president Htin Kyaw.
Her new proposed ministers – who will have to be approved – are all men, in their sixties and seventies. Three ministries are reserved for military appointees.
Here’s what we know about them, from their official resumes:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Electric Power and Energy; Ministry of the President’s Office: Aung San Suu Kyi
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Breeding and Irrigation: Dr. Aung Thu, 61, a former professor at Yangon University, who quit his job to run for the NLD in last November’s election. He has a seat in the upper house.
Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication: Thant Zin Aung, 62, retired general manager at Myanmar Railways. Has a seat in the lower house, representing Monya constituency, Sagaing Region.
Ministry of Religious Affairs: Aung Ko, former USDP central committee member who criticized the party after reformer Shwe Mann was removed from the party presidency last year.
Ministry of Resource and Environmental Conservation: Ohn Win, not an NLD member. Studied watershed management at Colorado State University in the US. Specialist in climate change adaptation and hydrology.
Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population: Thein Swe, 67, USDP member who studied in Japan and the UK, specializing in marine and naval affairs.
Ministry of Planning and Finance: Kyaw Win, 68, former business consultant now an MP for Dagon Seikkan Township in the lower house. Currently embroiled in scandal, as he had listed two fake degree certificates on his CV.
Ministry of Industry: Khin Maung Cho, 66, from central Myanmar. Former executive engineer at Super Seven Stars, which distributes Kia cars.
Ministry of Health: Dr. Myint Htwe, former Minister of Health between 1976 and 1994. Studied International Health at John Hopkins University. Worked as Director of Programme Management at the Southeast Asia wing of the World Health Organization from 2006 to 2010.
Ministry of Construction: Win Khine. Worked at the Ministry of Energy in 1976. Spent some time abroad in the early 80s, before establishing the United Engineering Company in 1991. Member of Myanmar Investment Commission.
Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement: Dr. Win Myat Aye, 61, studied medicine in Glasgow and Australia, specializing in pediatrics. NLD lawmaker in the upper house.
Ministry of Hotels and Tourism: Ohn Maung, MP for the NLD and former political prisoner. First arrested in 1989 and spent 3 years in Insein prison. Arrested again in 1998, sentenced to 7 years but released in 2004 under a general amnesty. He ran a guesthouse in Inle Lake back in the junta era, and launched the Inle Princess resort in 2012.
Ministry of Commerce: Dr. Than Myint, 72, studied economics in Yangon and got a phD in the US. Also studied in South Africa. NLD lawmaker in Hlaing Tharyar Township.
Ministry of Ethnic Affairs: Naing Thet Lwin, Mon National Party vice chair. Experienced in the rubber industry and hotel business.
Ministry of Information: Pe Myint, a famous writer who is also an official at the Myanmar Journalists Association.
Ministry of Defense: Deputy General Sein Win, military. Former Minister of Defense who also served at the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Ministry of Home Affairs: Deputy General Kyaw Swe, military. Former head of Military Affairs Security.
Ministry of Border Affairs: Deputy General Ye Aung, military. Former commander based in Mandalay and Kachin.
