Myanmar junta forces destroy two General Aung San bronze statues in Yangon

Mizzima

Myanmar junta forces destroyed two bronze statues of General Aung San in Yangon’s South Okkalapa and Thaketa townships on the night of 1 July, according to local residents.

Of the two statues located in South Okkalapa, the one destroyed was situated in Thumangalar Park on the Padaytha Market side. The demolition reportedly began after 10:00 PM.

“Only one statue has been dismantled so far, leaving only the pedestal. This particular statue was initiated by U Ko Ko Gyi. Around 10:30 PM, they cut the power to the park and began the demolition using a backhoe and a jackhammer with a crowd present,” a female resident of South Okkalapa said.

The statue was erected in 2017 under the civilian government, marking the 102nd anniversary of General Aung San’s birth.

According to Mizzima’s inquiries, another General Aung San bronze statue, erected by the local statue committee in South Okkalapa, remained undamaged as of this afternoon.

Similarly, junta forces destroyed another bronze statue of the General in Thaketa Township’s Mya Kan Thar Park at around 11:00 PM on 1 July.

“The bronze statue in Thaketa’s Mya Kan Thar Park near the local administration office was also destroyed. They arrived and started dismantling it around 11:00 PM (at) night. Since this morning, public access to the park has been blocked, with police and plainclothes security personnel monitoring the site,” an official from the Rangoon Scout Network (RSN), which tracks military movements in Yangon, reported.

The Myanmar junta has frequently targeted General Aung San statues for destruction in recent months. In this case and previous incidents, junta forces have cut power to the area before beginning demolition at night. Residents assess that the military regime aims to erase the historical legacy associated with General Aung San.

The female resident of South Okkalapa added: “I feel deeply saddened. Our own money went into building this destroyed statue. However, I believe adhering to a great leader’s teachings and deeds is far more important than physical monuments. The General lives eternally in our hearts. His physical absence does not diminish his legacy. If we love, value, and respect him, we must follow his guidance.”

The RSN representative remarked: “They appear to be systematically erasing images of General Aung San. As an icon of independence, his image inspires resistance, which is why they are targeting it. Similar to the Than Shwe era, they likely want to preserve only the narrative that he founded the military. It could also be a superstitious ritual (Yadaya).”

Previously, on 27 June, junta forces destroyed a General Aung San bronze statue in Ye-U’s Aung Mingalar Ward, and on 9 June, another on Kan Road in Taungoo, Bago Region.

The junta has destroyed General Aung San bronze statues in multiple locations across the country in recent years, including the statue in Pathein’s Kan Thon Sint Union Ground on 1 November 2023; the three-decade-old statue at the corner of Shwemawdaw Pagoda Road and the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway in central Bago on 7 August 2023; the statue near Pubba Market in Pubbathiri Township, Naypyidaw, on 28 July 2023; and the statue in Thazi, Mandalay Region, on 9 October 2024.