Henry Van Thio, the Vice President of Burma, has announced his retirement for health reasons, according to state media. Van Thio, a member of the Chin ethnic minority and a former army officer, was appointed as second vice president in 2016 as part of Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. He was the only member of Suu Kyi’s party to remain on the National Defense and Security Council after the military seized power in 2021. The council, which is controlled by the military, played a key role in the takeover by declaring a state of emergency and handing power to military chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing.
Van Thio, who has largely been absent from public view since the military takeover, was reportedly treated in a hospital in January 2021 for a serious head injury suffered in a fall at his residence. He made his first known appearance at a National Defense and Security Council meeting in July 2021 when the state of emergency was extended. The National League for Democracy, Suu Kyi’s party, expelled Van Thio from the party later that year for attending the council meeting. The military government dissolved the party in March for failing to meet a registration deadline.
The military seized power in February 2021, claiming massive poll fraud in the November 2020 election, despite independent election observers not finding major irregularities. The army blocked all elected lawmakers from taking their seats in Parliament and detained top members of Suu Kyi’s government and party. The takeover was met with widespread popular opposition, with peaceful demonstrations being violently suppressed by the military. In response to the crackdown, many opponents of military rule have taken up arms, leading to conflicts in large parts of the country.
Despite claims by the military that their actions were constitutional, legal scholars generally view the takeover as illegal. Van Thio’s resignation comes amid ongoing conflicts in the country as various ethnic armed groups, including guerrillas on the Thai border, continue to challenge the military’s authority. The military government has renewed the state of emergency several times since seizing power, with Van Thio not playing an active role in governance aside from providing a facade of constitutional rule. It remains to be seen who will replace Van Thio as Vice President and how this leadership change will impact the political situation in Burma moving forward.
