Myint Swe, who became Myanmar’s acting president under controversial circumstances after the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi more than four years ago, died yesterday, the military said.
He was 74.
He died at a military hospital in the capital, Naypyidaw, in the morning, Myanmar’s military information office said in a statement.
Photo: AP
Myint Swe’s death came more than a year after he stopped carrying out his presidential duties after he was publicly reported to be ailing.
His funeral is to be held at the state level, but the date had not been disclosed, a separate statement from the military information office said.
State media on Tuesday reported that he had been in critical condition and receiving intensive care since July 24 at a military hospital in Naypyidaw.
State media in July last year reported that Myint Swe had neurological disorders and peripheral neuropathy disease, which left him unable to carry out normal daily activities, including eating.
A few days later, he authorized Burmese Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military government, to assume his presidential duties while he was on medical leave, the reports said.
Myint Swe became acting president on Feb. 1, 2021, after the military arrested former Burmese president Win Myint along with Myanmar’s top leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, when the army seized power.
Myint Swe, a member of a pro-military party, took over the presidency under the constitution because he held the post of first vice president.
Legal experts questioned the legitimacy of the move because Win Myint neither stepped down from his post nor was incapacitated.
As acting president, Myint Swe chaired the Burmese National Defense and Security Council, which is nominally a constitutional government body, but in practice is controlled by the military. The council operates as the country’s top decisionmaking body related to national security, with the authority to declare a state of emergency, and oversee military and defense affairs.
Myint Swe’s appointment and acquiescence to the army’s demands allowed the council to be convened to declare a state of emergency and hand over power to Min Aung Hlaing, who led the army’s takeover.
During his time in office, Myint Swe could only perform the pro forma duties of his job, such as issuing decrees to renew the state of emergency, because Min Aung Hlaing controlled all government functions.
Myint Swe is survived by his wife and two children.
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