Myanmar’s Yangon Assembly to call extraordinary session

Myanmar HumanRightsWatch — Photo: Human Rights Watch

The Yangon Region Legislative Assembly will hold an extraordinary session today to formally appoint a new Minister of Border Affairs and Security for the regional government.

Colonel Thant Zin Oo of the Tatmadaw (Defence Services) will be helming the role, having been inducted as a legislator this February.

The session is likely to see a cabinet reshuffle and the approval of the 2020-2021 financial year state budget. These moves precede the November 8 general election that will serve as a litmus test for State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s incumbent National League for Democracy (NLD) government. Much of Yangon Chief Minister Min Thein’s focus has been on implementing new housing projects to accommodate new migrants and the growing squatter populace as many migrate to the urban centre seeking social mobility.

However, with the election looming, resources and attention have been diverted towards campaigning and has eroded confidence that these promises will be realised, especially if a new government succeeds the NLD in Yangon in 2021. Expect Yangon’s migrant population, which voted the NLD to power in the last election, to be displeased by the installation of a militaristic Border Affairs and Security minister with a poor human rights record. If the concerns of this pertinent electorate are ignored during the session, this may spell disaster for the NLD’s electoral chances in Yangon.