Mizzima 

Vice President 2 Henry Van Thio is likely to attend the upcoming meeting of the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC), said a source from Naypyidaw.  

In the previous NDSC meetings convened by the junta’s Military Council on January 31 and July 31 last year, Henry Van Thio, who remains in his office even after the military coup, requested a leave of absence from the meetings, citing health reasons. He is also a member of the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD).  

The military-written 2008 Constitution says, “The National Defence and Security Council may, if the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services submits the extension of the prescribed duration (State of Emergency) by giving reasons why he has not been able to accomplish the assigned duties normally permit two extensions of the prescribed duration for a term of six months for each extension.” As the current six-month extension of military rule is set to expire at the end of July, a meeting will have to be convened again to discuss the situation. 

In accordance with the 2008 Constitution upheld by the junta, the NDSC consists of several top officials, including the President, the two Vice Presidents, the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) Speaker, the Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House) Speaker, the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services, and the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services. 

On February 1, 2021, the military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing seized power from the elected civilian government led by the NLD and subsequently arrested State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint along with other top leaders. Following the takeover, the junta appointed former military general Vice President Myint Swe to lead the NDSC. Meanwhile, Henry Van Thio, aged 65, remains in his office as Vice President and continues to serve as a member of the NDSC.