Yangon – Daw Thet Thet Khine, a Minister for Social Welfare and Relief Resettlement appointed by the military junta, has reportedly said the military junta staged the coup due to electoral fraud during her visit to IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp in Kachin State, on 17 January 2022.
The military junta’s claim of electoral fraud is not backed up by international observers as well as the independent bodies observing the last election.
Witnesses have said Daw Thet Thet Khine also mentioned the military junta would transfer power to the winning party at the next election while visiting Man Na IDP camp in Waimaw Town, Kachin State.
Chindwin has learned that more than 3000 internally displaced by war reside at the Man Na IDP camp in Waimaw Town.
Decided to join the politics from running multiple businesses ranging from jewellery to real estate, Thet Thet Khine rose to become one of Parliamentary Members (MP) under the National League for Democracy (NLD) umbrella in 2015.
However, a trained physician quickly turned to criticize her party in media in 2018, which led her to dismissal from her party – NLD.
She founded the People’s Pioneer Party (PPP) aimed to promote social welfare, approved by Union Election Committee, Myanmar, in October 2019, quickly deploying many programs to promote her party.
She became an outspoken and strong critic of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi – a State Counsellor in open media, both domestic and internationally.
During the 2020 November election, the PPP did not win seats from where the party had contested.
In early of the military coup d’état in February 2021, Daw Thet Thet Khine had attempted to promote her political activism by making some donations amid the chaotic protests across the country.
Soon, to the surprise of many, Dawt Thet Thet Khine instead immediately accepted the offer of a role within the military junta administration and was appointed as a Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement the junta.
That being said, siding with the military and working for the military top brass is the path the former physician used to hobnob for her business dealings in the past, and it appears to be a much easier way to get whatever she wants under the shadow of the military power led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Ultimately, her choice is her rights, yet her choice has made her an enemy-like public figure, becoming one of the most hated ladies in the war-torn Myanmar.
