Burmese Military Reshuffle Sees New Security Chief Appointed

By Yan Pai 9 September 2014

The Burmese military carried out a top brass reshuffle on Monday, with former army chief of staff Lt-Gen Mya Tun Oo appointed to two new roles including head of the military’s security agency.

Seen as a potential future Burmese military chief, Mya Tun Oo was promoted from major general to his current rank only in July. He had served as the chief of staff (army) since 2012.

According to military sources, the reshuffle sees Mya Tun Oo appointed chief of Military Security Affairs and head of Bureau of Special Operation No. 6 Naypyidaw. Military Security Affairs is the agency that was created to replace Military Intelligence, which was disbanded as its chief Khin Nyunt fell from favor in 2004.

The former Military Security Affairs chief Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe takes over as the chief of staff (army), a role he will fill concurrently with his position as head of Bureau of Special Operation No. 5.

Commander of Rangoon Command Maj-Gen Hsan Oo was also promoted to adjutant general, and the former adjutant general Lt-Gen Khin Zaw Oo was assigned as the head of Bureau of Special Operation No. 4.

Commander of Northern Command Maj-Gen Tun Tun Naung was appointed as the commander of Rangoon Command, the sources said.

Lt-Gen Mya Tun Oo is a graduate of the 25th intake of the prestigious Defense Services Academy, and is thought to be trusted by those at the highest levels of Burma’s military establishment. He has been named as a possible replacement for Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, who is rumored to be looking to retire from service to enter civilian politics.

The newly-appointed chief of staff (army) Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe graduated from the 22nd intake at the academy, as did the deputy commander-in-chief of Defense Services Vice-Senior General Soe Win.