Burma’s Vice President 2 Henry Van Thio’s current visit to Chin State will last until after the general election on November 8, a government spokesperson has said.
The vice president is checking on the implementation of regional development projects in Hakha and will next go to Thantlang Township, where he is running for re-election to parliament representing the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD).
“He is going to Thantlang for his election campaign. I think he will be in Thantlang until the end of the election,” Chin State municipal minister Soe Htet told Khonumthung News.
Vice President Henry Van Thio arrived in Hakha on October 25. He then visited the construction site for the new Vum Thu Maung sports stadium, the Chin State supreme court, the Government Technical Institute, Hakha Education College, Hakha University, and Bong Zong cement factory.
“He observed the construction projects. He offered necessary guidelines… He also gave guidelines that would promote the education college to a university,” Soe Htet said.
The municipal minister added that the Vice President also witnessed the first passenger flight land at Surbung Airport.
Members of other political parties questioned whether Henry Van Thio’s trip, which appears to combine government responsibilities with election campaigning, was ethical.
“I don’t exactly know whether his visit to Chin State is part of the government’s program or his election campaign program,” Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, secretary of the Chin National League for Democracy (CNLD), told Khonumthung News. “They should not do both a government trip and his campaign trip at the same time. There should be a clear distinction between the trips.”
Henry Van Thio running for re-election in Thantlang against Van Moong Liang of the CNLD and Sheng Liang Hmong of the Union Solidarity and Development Party.