Unelected President ushers in new era of democracy in Burma

By our correspondent in Nay Pyi Daw

There were celebrations across the country today as U Htin Kyaw formally assumed the Presidency of Burma, ending 50 years of direct military rule.

“For years we have made struggle and sacrifice so we can choose our President through a democratic vote. So having U Htin Kyaw appointed President by Aung San Suu Kyi is a very big day for us,” said Maung Aye, a shopkeeper in Dagon Township, Yangon.

“For too long our country has been in the grip of the military and their cronies. So it is very good that Aung San Suu Kyi has made her lifelong friend the President,” said Thein Oo, a taxi driver in Kamayut Township.

In addition to the President, there are two new Vice Presidents. Vice President No1, U Myint Swe, also demonstrates a break with the past, as despite being a former general, leading the crackdown against peaceful protestors including shooting Monks in the 2007 uprising, being involved in assassinations, and notorious for cronyism and corruption, so far no evidence has come to light of his being involved in war crimes.

Veteran journalist Peter Popham praised Aung San Suu Kyi’s decision to appoint Henry Van Thio as Vice President No2. “It is a wonderful gesture by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to reach out to coffee coloured minorities. Henry is a real break with the past, a former soldier who worked for military and state run businesses, now at the top level of government. Can I also take this opportunity to point out that despite negative articles regarding my reporting Aung San Suu Kyi saying she didn’t know she was going to be interviewed by a Muslim, the fact that she might once have dated someone from Pakistan, and that she met a Muslim person in 1988, means some of her best friends are Muslims.”

In another sign of the new era Burma is entering, the ceremony to inaugurate the President and Vice Presidents took place in a Parliament which has no Muslim MPs. The ceremony was overseen by an all-male line up Parliamentary Speakers.

The next task of Parliament is to approve government ministers, who include one woman, one ethnic person, Thura Aung Ko, a general accused of raping two women, and no Muslims.

Man who drove friends in car will be President - AFP

International news agency AFP beat media rivals today by revealing that U Htin Kyaw, confirmed today as NLD presidential nominee, has occasionally driven his friends, including Aung San Suu Kyi, in his car. They headlined the article: ‘Aung San Suu Kyi's former driver U Htin Kyaw nominated for Myanmar president.’

Media ‎rivals rushed to catch up. Reuters discovered that U Htin Kyaw once made Aung San Suu Kyi a cup of tea, confirmed this with two sources, and led with a headline: ‘Aung San Suu Kyi's former waiter U Htin Kyaw nominated for Myanmar president.’

AP discovered she once had dinner at his house, and led‎ with the headline: ‘Aung San Suu Kyi's former chef U Htin Kyaw nominated for Myanmar president.’

UPI discovered he once threw a stick for her dog in the garden and led with the headline: ‘Aung San Suu Kyi's former dog walker U Htin Kyaw nominated for Myanmar president.’

In a surprise move, AFP later changed their headline.