Myanmar military’s proxy party convenes central assembly

The proxy party of Myanmar’s military convened its annual central committee meeting in Naypyitaw on Wednesday amid tight security and expectations of a shakeup of senior leaders.

More that 400 central committee members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) attended the first day of the two-day gathering at the party’s headquarters Naypyitaw’s Dekkhinathiri Township, party sources said.

With some 20 armed soldiers seen guarding the event inside the office compound and at least four vehicles with junta troops spotted near the office, the party appeared to be taking no chances with the safety of its delegates.

The heightened security comes as no surprise, as a bomb attack targeting USDP supporters injured at least six in Naypyitaw less than a month ago. The Naypyitaw chapter of the People’s Defence Force, the armed wing of the shadow National Unity Government, claimed responsibility for the attack, which was carried out near the USDP headquarters.

As the meeting started at around 9:30am, traffic police, with soldiers and police close at hand, were busy inspecting passersby near the site of the explosion, according to a Naypyitaw local.

Yin Min Myint Swe, a spokesperson for the USDP, said the security measures were necessary to ensure that the party’s committee members can meet without concern for their personal safety.

“We provided suitable security around the headquarters compound during their stay for their safety,” she told Myanmar Now on Wednesday afternoon.

According to a May 24 article by a pro-junta media outlet, more than 1,600 individuals affiliated with the USDP, including party members and supporters, have been killed by anti-junta guerrilla groups since last year’s coup.

Bomb explosion injures junta supporters ahead of pro-military rally in Naypyitaw

Time for reform?

According to Yin Min Myint Swe, this year’s meeting will focus on the need for substantive change within the party, although it is still not clear what that will mean in terms of the party’s leadership.

“This meeting is important for reforming the party, from the bottom all the way up. But I still don’t know about the top-level leadership changes,” she said.

The USDP suffered a humiliating electoral defeat when it lost to the ousted ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), in November 2020. In response, the party accused the NLD of vote-rigging and called for a new election under military supervision.

These claims, which have been widely rejected by impartial observers, were the basis for last year’s February 1 coup. The leader of the newly installed regime, Min Aung Hlaing, has promised to hold elections again next year, but with most NLD leaders currently in prison or in exile, few expect such a move to do much to end the country’s ongoing turmoil.

Forced to suspend meetings for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the deteriorating post-coup situation, the USDP is looking to make a real difference at this year’s gathering, according to a party member who spoke to Myanmar Now on condition of anonymity.

“This meeting is crucial for the re-election of central executive committee members and even the chair. However, whether such changes actually materialize or not depends on the votes of 400 central committee members,” the party member said.

He added that it will not be known until Thursday whether there will be party leadership changes.

Nanda Hla Myint, another party spokesperson, declined to comment on the prospect of a major shakeup at the top, telling Myanmar Now to “just wait” for the party’s official statement to see what happens.

Extended tenure

According to party regulations, the chair’s tenure is limited to five years. However, its current chair, retired brigadier general Than Htay, has been in the position since 2016. Party sources say that he is seeking to amend party rules to hold onto the top spot, but these reports could not be independently confirmed.

If there are major changes, it won’t be the first time for the party. In August 2015, former general Thura Shwe Mann was dramatically ousted from the chairperson position and replaced by Htay Oo, a retired major general.

There have also been significant shifts at other levels. The party has a new Naypyitaw chair, and former defence minister Wai Lwin has been replaced by Myint Hlaing, the former minister for agriculture.

Maung Myint, a well-known central committee member and former MP from Sagaing Region’s Mingin Township, has spoken out on social media about his dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership.

“The party’s future will not be bright under a poor leadership,” he wrote on Facebook on Sunday.

One day ahead of the party meeting, he took to Facebook again to speak out in favour of Khin Yi, one of the party’s current vice-chairs (and the junta’s immigration minister) or Thaung Aye, another central committee member, taking over as chair.