Junta continues cabinet reshuffle

New Delhi (Mizzima) - In the continuing reshuffle of its cabinet, the Burmese military rulers have appointed two of its Ministers to head an extra ministry each in place of ministers that have resigned, sources said.

Sources close to the military establishment on Thursday told Mizzima that Maj-Gen Maung Oo, Minister for Home Affairs was appointed to co-head the Ministry of Immigration & Population, which was earlier headed by Maj-Gen Saw Lwin.

Similarly, Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint, Minister for Electric Power No 2 will also head the Ministry of Construction, which was earlier headed by Maj-Gen Saw Tun.

Sources on Wednesday confirmed the resignation of both Maj-Gen Saw Lwin and Maj-Gen Saw Tun.

However, the junta so far has made no announcement of the resignations or the new appointments of Maj-Gen Maung Oo and Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint.

Mizzima in December 2008 ran a story on a possible cabinet reshuffle
http://www.mizzima.com/news/election-2010/1415-eight-ministers-and-rangoons-mayor-to-resign-soon.html.

The source, who cannot be named for security reasons said, the junta is removing some of its ministers as it prefers managing a fewer number of ministers in the run up to 2010 election and in the completion of the process of its roadmap.

Earlier, this week Dr. Than Nyunt, Chairman of the Civil Service Selection and Training Board and Myo Nyunt, the Deputy Education Minister resigned from their respective positions.

The junta also promoted Kyaw Thu, the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Chairman of the Civil Service Selection and Training Board, which is equivalent to a minister's rank.

Kyaw Thu is currently chairing the Tripartite Core Group, formed with representatives of the Burmese government, the UN and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to facilitate and monitor flow of international assistance into Cyclone Nargis cyclone hit areas in Burma.