Mizzima
The junta’s State Administration Council (SAC) has approved the retirement of Vice President U Henry Van Thio due to health concerns.
The SAC issued an official statement signed by Lieutenant General Aung Lin Dwe that announced Vice President (2) U Henry Van Thio’s retirement on medical grounds, in accordance with Section 419 of the Constitution, according to a report by the junta-controlled Myawaddy News on 22 April.
The statement gave no details regarding Henry Van Thio’s health problems or who will succeed him.
Henry Van Thio was elected as a National League for Democracy (NLD) member of parliament for Chin State Constituency (3) in the 2015 general elections. Following the 2015 elections he was appointed Vice President (2).
Following the 1 February 2021 coup President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, both of the NLD, were arrested and removed from their posts by the junta. But, the junta did not arrest Henry Van Thio or remove him from his Vice President’s post.
But despite this, following the coup Henry Van Thio disappeared from public view for two and a half years until he attended the junta’s National Defense and Security Council meeting on 31 July 2023.
Following his participation in the Security Council meeting the NLD expelled him from the party. Subsequently, he also attended the Security Council meeting held on 31 January 2024.
