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| Burma's new democratic parliament selects first civilian president in a half century | Burma's new democratic parliament selects first civilian president in a half century |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| RANGOON — Burma’s parliament on Tuesday chose Htin Kyaw, a longtime adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi, as president of the first civilian government in the Southeast Asian nation in decades. | RANGOON — Burma’s parliament on Tuesday chose Htin Kyaw, a longtime adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi, as president of the first civilian government in the Southeast Asian nation in decades. |
| Htin Kyaw, 69, an executive committee member of a Suu Kyi-led foundation, will be sworn in on March 30 at a crucial time in Burma’s history, as the country shifts from military-backed government to a civilian one lead by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party. | Htin Kyaw, 69, an executive committee member of a Suu Kyi-led foundation, will be sworn in on March 30 at a crucial time in Burma’s history, as the country shifts from military-backed government to a civilian one lead by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party. |
| Htin Kyaw is a tall, quiet man often photographed at the side of Suu Kyi, Burma’s revered leader known as “Mother Suu.” | Htin Kyaw is a tall, quiet man often photographed at the side of Suu Kyi, Burma’s revered leader known as “Mother Suu.” |
| [Aung San Suu Kyi’s party nominates trusted aide to be Burma’s president] | |
| He spent much of his career working as one of her top advisers, supporting her during more than 15 years of house arrest, before shifting over to head the charitable foundation named for her mother in 2012. He was detained by Burma’s military junta in 2000 while attempting to accompany her on a trip outside of Rangoon. | He spent much of his career working as one of her top advisers, supporting her during more than 15 years of house arrest, before shifting over to head the charitable foundation named for her mother in 2012. He was detained by Burma’s military junta in 2000 while attempting to accompany her on a trip outside of Rangoon. |
| Analysts say that the generals will be a priority for Htin Kyaw and Aung San Suu Kyi as they move forward in the coming weeks. The military hold outsized power in Burma, with key ministries and vast business holdings still under their control. They vetoed an effort by Suu Kyi to circumvent a constitutional provision that bars her serving as president. | Analysts say that the generals will be a priority for Htin Kyaw and Aung San Suu Kyi as they move forward in the coming weeks. The military hold outsized power in Burma, with key ministries and vast business holdings still under their control. They vetoed an effort by Suu Kyi to circumvent a constitutional provision that bars her serving as president. |
| “It’s going to be a very, very critical relationship,” said Priscilla A. Clapp, senior advisor to the U.S. Institute of Peace who served as chief of mission and charge d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Burma from 1999 to 2002. | “It’s going to be a very, very critical relationship,” said Priscilla A. Clapp, senior advisor to the U.S. Institute of Peace who served as chief of mission and charge d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Burma from 1999 to 2002. |
| The military wing of parliament, whose seats are guaranteed by the constitution, chose a retired lieutenant general seen as a hardliner as their choice for first vice president that was confirmed Tuesday. | The military wing of parliament, whose seats are guaranteed by the constitution, chose a retired lieutenant general seen as a hardliner as their choice for first vice president that was confirmed Tuesday. |
| Retired Lieutenant General Myint Swe formerly ran the military’s intelligence bureau and clamped down on student protesters last year while serving as chief minister of Rangoon, also known as Yangon. He is among several Burmese companies and businessmen who are barred from doing business with U.S. citizens by the U.S. Treasury. | Retired Lieutenant General Myint Swe formerly ran the military’s intelligence bureau and clamped down on student protesters last year while serving as chief minister of Rangoon, also known as Yangon. He is among several Burmese companies and businessmen who are barred from doing business with U.S. citizens by the U.S. Treasury. |
| State Department spokesman John Kirby reiterated the U.S. position on the military reservation in parliament last week, calling it one of the “structural and systemic flaws in Burma’s constitution.” | State Department spokesman John Kirby reiterated the U.S. position on the military reservation in parliament last week, calling it one of the “structural and systemic flaws in Burma’s constitution.” |
| “We want to see the democratic transition move forward,” he said. “We have conveyed our concerns about to Burmese leaders, and we’re just – we’re going to continue to watch this.” | “We want to see the democratic transition move forward,” he said. “We have conveyed our concerns about to Burmese leaders, and we’re just – we’re going to continue to watch this.” |
| [Burma’s election leaves former patron China with uncomfortable questions] | |
| The second vice president chosen was Henry Van Thio, who is a member of Parliament from Suu Kyi’s party, a Christian and the country’s Chin ethnic minority. | The second vice president chosen was Henry Van Thio, who is a member of Parliament from Suu Kyi’s party, a Christian and the country’s Chin ethnic minority. |
| The new president inherits a country of 51 million with jarring poverty, creaking infrastructure and dismal schools and health care. Its economy grew at more than 8 percent last year but is expected to moderate, according to the World Bank. Burma, also known as Myanmar, remains one of the poorest countries in Asia. | The new president inherits a country of 51 million with jarring poverty, creaking infrastructure and dismal schools and health care. Its economy grew at more than 8 percent last year but is expected to moderate, according to the World Bank. Burma, also known as Myanmar, remains one of the poorest countries in Asia. |
| Despite a high-profile peace accord with the armed ethnic militias in November, fighting has continued in Burma’s border areas. The country has hundreds of thousands who have been displaced in conflict areas, as well as an estimated 140,000 Rohingya Muslims who have been living in camps since clashes with their Buddhist neighbors in 2012. | Despite a high-profile peace accord with the armed ethnic militias in November, fighting has continued in Burma’s border areas. The country has hundreds of thousands who have been displaced in conflict areas, as well as an estimated 140,000 Rohingya Muslims who have been living in camps since clashes with their Buddhist neighbors in 2012. |
| Eaint Thiri Thu contributed to this story. | Eaint Thiri Thu contributed to this story. |
| Read more: | |
| Hard-line Buddhist monks threaten Burma’s hopes for democracy | |
| What happened when Aung San Suu Kyi’s party last won an election in Burma | |
| Burma victory caps a decades-long battle for opposition leader Suu Kyi |