[Global Focus] Hlaing, Coup Leader, Takes the Lead in Rohingya Massacre

Ethnic Minority 'Genocide' Notorious
Political Ambitions Revealed on SNS
Long-term Rule Expected After Emergency Declaration

Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces [Photo by AP]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] International attention is increasing on Min Aung Hlaing, the Commander-in-Chief who seized full authority over the legislative, judicial, and executive branches through the Myanmar military coup. Known internationally as the main perpetrator of the 2017 massacre of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority in Myanmar, he is a soldier notorious for 'ethnic cleansing.'

Commander-in-Chief Hlaing was born in 1956 near the Andaman Sea and grew up in Yangon. After beginning his military service in 1977 and holding various key positions, he rose to Commander-in-Chief in 2011. The BBC reported, "When he served as commander of the 2nd Special Forces, he drove the Shan and Kokang ethnic minorities out of the country through brutal methods such as murder, rape, and arson, yet he steadily advanced in rank to the highest military power."

Considered the successor to former president Thein Sein, the first civilian president with a military background, Commander-in-Chief Hlaing began solidifying his position as the opposition presidential candidate after the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, won a landslide victory in the 2015 general election. He openly revealed his political ambitions by meeting religious leaders and posting his activities on personal social media. Last November, he attempted to challenge for the presidency through the military-linked Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)'s victory in the general election, but when the NLD won, he resorted to the coup card.

The Washington Post pointed out that Commander-in-Chief Hlaing is arrogant and never backs down. When Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited in 2016, it was reported that instead of seeking out Prime Minister Lee, he demanded that Lee come to him. When meeting foreign diplomats or leaders, he often criticized the interpreter's translation and spoke directly in English. Although Hlaing declared a one-year state of emergency, the prevailing view is that he will remain in power beyond that. In fact, after the coup, during a meeting with businesspeople, he said, "To ensure fair election management, the military government can continue to lead for six more months after the state of emergency ends."