Min Aung Hlaing hints at change on Armed Forces Day; Does his family own a $3 million home in Thailand?

Min Aung Hlaing hints at change on Armed Forces Day

Regime leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing stated that the military continues to be the “guardian of the nation” – after it staged a coup that ousted the democratically-elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government on Feb. 1, 2021 – at the 81st Armed Forces Day parade in Naypyidaw on Friday. Five years to the day when over 100 anti-coup protesters were killed by soldiers and police on March 27, 2021.

Min Aung Hlaing is widely expected to be named president this week as the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Burma’s bicameral legislature, will reconvene today for its third week – since the 2021 coup – to begin the selection process for three vice-presidents of which one will become president. Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) Chairperson Khin Yi was selected speaker of the Pyitthu Hluttaw, or lower house of parliament, and regime minister Maung Maung Ohn as his deputy on March 16.

Min Aung Hlaing claimed that “union accords” with 43 constitutional amendments will be submitted to parliament this week. Last week, four parliamentary committees were formed to scrutinise proposed legislation to ensure it complies with the 2008 Constitution. Deputy regime leader Soe Win told a ceremony for retired soldiers in Naypyidaw on March 26 that a change in military leadership is to be expected following Armed Forces Day on March 27. Read more

Does his family own a $3 million home in Thailand?

Whistleblower group Justice For Myanmar published a new investigation into Min Aung Hlaing on Wednesday, revealing that his family purchased a luxury property in the Issara Residence Rama 9 development in the Thai capital Bangkok in 2022 for 98 million THB ($3 million USD). Thai law prohibits foreigners from owning land.

“These high value real estate purchases violate Thai law and the Thai government now needs to urgently step up, investigate and prosecute those involved, including Min Aung Hlaing and his family members, and seize their assets,” Yadanar Maung, the Justice For Myanmar spokesperson, shared in a press release on March 25.

The property was sold by the Stock Exchange of Thailand listed company Charn Issara Development Public Company Limited and was transferred to Emerald Princess Company Limited, which is owned by three Thai citizens. JFM found that Emerald Princess is a proxy company for Min Aung Hlaing’s family and that the purchase was negotiated in the name of Myo Yadana Htaik, his daughter-in-law.