Myanmar Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, center, and vice president Henery Van Thio, right, attend the power handover ceremony at the presidential palace in Naypyidaw in this March 30 photo. Suu Kyi is expected to become state-counselor, a de facto premier. (Photo by AFP)
Aung San Suu Kyi has cut the number of ministries she will head in Myanmar's new government.
The former opposition leader will remain as foreign minister and minister in the president's office but will ditch the education and electric power and energy ministries.
Naw San, a Catholic and Lower House lawmaker from Kachin State, said the move is aimed at reducing Suu Kyi's duties and responsibilities as parliament is looking to appoint her as state-counselor, with a role similar to that of a prime minister.
Two civil servants will assume ministerial roles with the education and electric power and energy ministries.
The move to drop the energy and electricity ministry would spare Suu Kyi from directly handling opposition to the China-backed Mytisone Dam project in Kachin state, which was suspended by the previous government.
The dam remains highly unpopular among local people in Kachin State, a Christian stronghold.
"Suu Kyi will retain a leading role and give guidance to the [new minister] especially when handing the controversial Myitsone Dam issue," Naw San, a member of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, told ucanews.com April 4.
Early indications are that the NLD-led government would be reluctant to resume the project.
Naw San said the government would not implement projects that go against the will of the people.
Steven Tsa Ji, general secretary of the Kachin Development Networking Group, which monitors development projects to safeguard natural resources, agreed.
"I think new NLD-led government is less likely to restart Myitsone Dam as they would face nationwide opposition if they let China restart the project," he said.
Locals, especially in Kachin, are unhappy about how China has been allowed to exploit natural resources, such as teak and jade in the past without benefitting the local population.
"No matter who is in government, civil society will take a leading role in speaking out against development projects that do not benefit the people," Tsa Ji said.
The issue will provide a big test for the new government on how it handles China on this issue, since contracts have already been signed, he said.
