An influential member of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party has claimed that there are people within it who could work ‘in even higher positions than the president.’
U Aung Thaung, a US-blacklisted former general, was quoted on the party website as saying in a speech to members on June 19: “There are a lot of members who are experienced in state-building. A lot of qualified members.
“There are members who have the capacity to work as president. There are members who have the capacity to work in higher positions than the president.”
He did not clarify what those positions were, exactly.
The rest of the speech continued with his favored style of anti-Western rhetoric.
“We are not the slave of policies of other countries,” he continued. “We have enough funding. We work for the public forever. This is the only party which has most exposure with public and can serve for the public.”
U Aung Thaung, dubbed ‘untouchable’ by the Irrawaddy for his strong connections, was blacklisted by the United States Treasury last year over alleged links to deadly anti-Muslim riots that have claimed scores of lives since 2012.
Photo / USDP website
