Putting on a Show for Dead Puppet President; Slamming Door on ASEAN Peace Bid; and More

The military regime’s recently rebranded State Security and Peace Commission has graciously rewarded former Acting President Myint Swe with a state funeral—a final gift from junta boss Min Aung Hlaing to a man who facilitated his coup in 2021.

Min Aung Hlaing has also declared national mourning until Monday for a longtime regime enhancer who handed the country to a dictatorship, thereby plunging Myanmar into armed conflict and economic ruin.

Myanmar has held only two previous state funerals in its modern history. The first, in 1947, followed the assassination of independence hero General Aung San and his cabinet. Over 300,000 citizens poured into the streets in sorrow.