On Monday, the Myanmar military has promoted Major General Phone Myat (56) to Deputy Minister at the military-controlled Border Affairs Ministry. Previously he was the chief of Myanmar military’s Western Command.
President U Win Myint announced that Major General Phone Myat will replace Major General Than Htut as the deputy border affairs minister and the latter will return to his military duties. In 2017, Major General Phone Myat served as the chief of the Northeastern Command and Northwestern Command, later in 2019, he was replaced with Major General Soe Tint Naing becoming the Western commander.
The Myanmar military recently made structural reforms, creating commanding officer positions in all the 14 commands, who all hold the rank of brigadier general. It said the positions would boost operational and reconnaissance capability. Apart from all changes in Tatmadaw’s defensive structures, Defense Minister Lieutenant General Sein Win, Deputy Defense Minister Maj-Gen Myint Nwe and Border Affairs Minister Lt-Gen Ye Aung positions remain same even after 2017’s military brutal crackdown on the Rohingya.
