Former President U Thein Sein had quietly disappeared from public view after the change of government before news emerged ahead of Thingyan that he had become a monk for five days at a monastery at Pyin Oo Lwin.
Many had wondered, after his decision not to stand in the November 2015 election, whether he might have been planning a quieter life after five years in the nation’s top job. But that seems unlikely.
Thein Sein, 71, remains deeply involved in politics through his position as chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party. His control over the USDP was consolidated on April 22 when it expelled Thura U Shwe Mann and 16 of his factional allies in the last act of the purge that began in August when the former Speaker was removed as the party’s chairman. The expulsions were decided at a meeting of the party’s central executive committee attended by Thein Sein.
Documents obtained by Frontier last week revealing that the former president plans to form a civil society organisation called the Thein Sein Center have also fuelled speculation about a political strategy involving the 2020 election.
The documents show that the centre – which will include a library, a research and development arm and other departments – was registered in March, will work with domestic and foreign counterparts and have a 15-member board that includes people close to Thein Sein. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
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