The National League for Democracy (NLD) will appoint its own party member to lead Shan State as Chief Minister, according to the party's spokesperson Dr Zaw Myint Maung. This despite calls to appoint someone from the NLD’s long-time ethnic partner the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD). The Shan party won more seats in Shan state than the NLD.
“We have nothing to say about the Shan State Chief Minister issue. This [issue] is raised by those in Shan State. The NLD won at the union level so only the NLD government will appoint the Chief Minister,” Dr Zaw Myint Maung explained.
Dr Linn Htut a recently elected NLD MP from the Shan State Hluttaw representing Lashio Township, is expected to become the next Shan State Chief Minister.
Political observers question however the apparent appointment of Dr Linn Htut, a non-Shan State resident and an ethnic Burman for the Shan State Chief Minister position as the state has a diverse population of ethnic people.
The 2015 Election the saw the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) win the most seats in Shan State, while the SNLD received the second most seats. The NLD came in third place after the SNLD.
The NLD led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of national leader General Aung San, has promised to carry out ethnic affairs and promote peace when her government takes office in April.
“Shan State affairs are complicated. A non-local resident is unsuitable for Shan State [chief minister] due to issues of ethnicity and internal peace,” said Sai Aung Myint Oo from the Tai Youth Network.
He added that the SNLD has received public support and won more seats in Shan State so he called for the NLD to appoint a person from the SNLD as the Chief Minister.
