The Burmese president removes members of the old guard to promote more reform-minded people. However, Burma expert says the changes have not altered the underlying power structure. "Unsolved problems" persist as the old elites benefit from new opportunities.

Yangon (AsiaNews) - President Thein Sein's cabinet shuffle is a "smokescreen" because the country's real problems will not be solved by new ministers even if they belong to ruling group's reformist wing, a Burma expert told AsiaNews on condition his name be withheld for security reasons.  

Although the old faces left from the military regime are gone, the crux of the matter is the military's economic power, which remains intact. Joining international organisations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund only means more business for the elites, including the ability to export capital.

Yesterday, the Burmese president announced a long-awaited cabinet shuffle. For some experts, Thein Sein used this opportunity to remove members of the old guard still in government and replace them with people more in tune with his reform project.

Four of his key ministers became ministers in the president's office. They include Railway Minister Aung Min, as well as Finance Minister Hla Tun and Industry Minister Soe Thein, who will work closely with the president.

The country's hard-line Information Minister Kyaw Hsan, who for years oversaw the regime's relations with the media, has been moved to a junior post. Labour Minister Aung Kyi, the former junta's official liaison to Suu Kyi when she was under house arrest, will take his place.

However, for an expert on Burmese politics and social issues living inside Myanmar, such changes are just a smokescreen. Problems remain "unsolved," like social justice, redistribution of wealth and a democratic balance of power between the country's political institutions.

Even the election of Aung San Suu Kyi to parliament is just a way of "keeping her busy" and turn her into the "symbol of change" in a nation where the balance of power has not changed.

The real problem is the relationship between Thein Sein and the military, the real power behind the throne.

The president is "either too weak" and has to resort to minor tinkering because he cannot push for real changes, "or working with the military."

In reality, far from breaking with the past, he represents continuity. At best, all he did was to clean up the old regime a bit international consumption. In return, by opening the door to Myanmar, international organisations are providing the country's economic elites, i.e. the old military rulers, with "opportunities to do business, move capital and make money".

 

• myanmar
• democracy
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• san
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• thein
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