Although Vice President # 1 Thihathura Tin Aung Myint Oo had tendered his resignation reportedly since 3 May, the government has yet to make any official statement about it. It is because Naypyitaw is not yet ready to summon a Union Assembly (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw) which had just closed its third session in April, according to Harn Yawnghwe, Director of Euro Burma Office and a voluntary peace broker between Naypyitaw and non Burman ethnic armed movements.

Tin Aung Myint Oo (Photo: Reuters)

“The 2008 constitution requires the Union Assembly to convene a special session to elect a new Vice President within 3 weeks following notification from the President,” he said.

Incidentally, Tin Aung Myint Oo’s name still appears in the list of the Union Peacemaking Central Committee (UPCC), announced on 19 May.

Article 73 of the constitution says “when the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is in session, the President shall promptly intimate the Head of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw to elect a new Vice-President within seven days by the group of Hluttaw representatives concerned that elected the said Vice-President.” However, if “the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is not in session, the Head of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall summon the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw within 21 days from the day of receipt of the intimation from the president and proceed with the election of a Vice President by the group of Hluttaw representatives concerned.”

Tin Aung Myint Oo, 62, was elected by the military appointed MPs on 3 February 2011.

His resignation is due to health reasons, reported Mizzima News, quoting his family members.