BANGKOK (AP) - Myint Swe, who ascended to the role of acting president of Myanmar following the military coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi over four years ago, passed away on Thursday at a military hospital in Naypyitaw at the age of 74. His death was announced by Myanmar's military information office.
Myint Swe had been in critical condition for over a year, ceasing to fulfill his presidential duties after reports surfaced that his health was deteriorating. State media indicated on July 24 that he had been receiving intensive care due to various health complications, including neurological disorders and peripheral neuropathy, which severely limited his ability to carry out daily activities, even affecting his capacity to eat. Shortly after, he authorized Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military government, to take over his presidential responsibilities while he was on medical leave.
Myint Swe became acting president on February 1, 2021, after the military arrested former President Win Myint and Aung San Suu Kyi during the military's takeover. His ascendancy to the presidency was based on his position as first vice president, with legal experts questioning the validity of the transition, highlighting that Win Myint did not resign or was not incapacitated at the time.
As acting president, Myint Swe chaired the National Defense and Security Council, a government body that is ostensibly constitutional but effectively under military control. This council is the primary authority for national security decisions and has the power to declare a state of emergency. Under his leadership, the council convened to declare a state of emergency and transfer power to Min Aung Hlaing, the military leader responsible for the coup.
During his presidency, Myint Swe was largely unable to engage in substantive governmental functions, relegating him to perform only formal duties like renewing the state of emergency, as Min Aung Hlaing wielded actual power over the government. Myint Swe, a former general and ally of Than Shwe, who led a previous military regime, was chief minister of Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, from 2011 to 2016 under a quasi-civilian government.
Before his political rise, Myint Swe was associated with the military during its previous governance, playing a significant role during the Saffron Revolution in 2007, where he oversaw a crackdown on protests that resulted in numerous fatalities and arrests. Although he lacked a prominent recognition on the international stage, Myint Swe was a pivotal figure within Myanmar's military and political framework, participating in high-profile arrests that shifted the power dynamics within the military itself.
Following the military coup in February 2021, Myint Swe was among several military leaders sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department, primarily due to their involvement in the takeover and the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political figures. He is survived by his wife and two children, with a state-level funeral planned in his honor, although the date has yet to be revealed.
