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Junta Watch
Min Aung Hlaing attends the opening ceremony for a brand new technological college in Naypyitaw on Sunday. / Cincds
By The Irrawaddy 19 November 2022
India deepens ties with Myanmar junta
Amid criticism over the more and more shut cooperation between the Myanmar navy regime and India, the world’s largest democracy, junta-appointed Minister for Commerce U Aung Naing Oo was invited as an honorary visitor to a enterprise assembly within the nation final week.
U Aung Naing Oo attended the annual common assembly of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata on Nov. 11.
The previous navy officer, who has been serving to to seek out sources of financing for Min Aung Hlaing’s sanctions-hit regime, delivered an handle on the “Particular Session on India-Myanmar Commerce Relations” occasion, in keeping with junta media. The speech centered on clarifying prospects for additional promotion of bilateral commerce and funding between the 2 neighbors.
The minister additionally urged Indian businessmen to buy extra beans and pulses from Myanmar, and to make use of the native currencies, the Myanmar kyat and Indian rupee, in bilateral commerce.
Simply earlier than his “promotion” journey to India, the Min Aung Hlaing loyalist dispatched business attachés to different international locations tasked with selling commerce and funding.
Following his appointment as minister for funding and overseas financial relations within the aftermath of the Feb. 1, 2021 coup, U Aung Naing Oo sacked ministry staff who refused to work for the regime and went on strike.
With worldwide financial sanctions and a home boycott of funds of any variety to the regime—together with utility payments and shopping for state lottery tickets—making a monetary disaster for the regime, U Aung Naing Oo has helped appeal to overseas funding to Myanmar for the navy junta.
Shunned by the world, invader and dictator go hand in glove
Following the go to of a Russian delegation from Fund RC-Investments, an funding platform of the Roscongress Basis, despatched by Russian President Vladimir Putin on a particular mission to advertise business ties with Myanmar, junta spokesman Main Normal Zaw Min Tun mentioned on Nov. 11 that Myanmar will export lots of of tons of fishery merchandise to Russia and set up a gems expo in just a few months to come back.
Throughout their go to to Myanmar final week, the Russian delegation paid a name on junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and likewise met with the ministers involved to debate promotion of commerce and funding, direct cost in rubles and kyats between the 2 international locations, and cooperation in a variety of sectors from tourism, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, electrical energy and vitality to tradition and schooling. The 2 sides additionally signed a memorandum of understanding on commerce and funding.
We must wait and see how far the expanded bilateral commerce between the 2 sanctioned international locations goes, however jet fighters, gasoline and arms from Russia are contributing an incredible deal to Min Aung Hlaing’s means to take care of his grip on energy. Moscow can also be serving to to construct a modular nuclear reactor undertaking for the regime.
Junta-appointed Science and Expertise Minister Dr. Myo Kyaw Thein in now in Russia on a analysis journey and to attend the Russian Federation twelfth ATOMEXPO-2022 Worldwide Discussion board.
Min Aung Hlaing, a real jack of all trades
The financial chaos that has gripped Myanmar since final yr’s coup may be largely attributed to Min Aung Hlaing’s unlucky behavior of sticking his oar in the whole lot. It’s the kind of narcissistic character trait typical of dictators.
The most recent proof of this got here when the junta dictator made consider he was a well being and wellness knowledgeable, instructing overweight division employees to quick for 36 hours to shred themselves.
Employees from two ministries—Protection and Dwelling Affairs—had been the primary to obtain the instruction. It referred to as for supervision at totally different ranges of these with a excessive physique mass index (BMI), particularly those that are overweight, of their weight reduction journey; monitoring of their efforts and shut supervision of those that aren’t making progress; and most significantly, that the progress have to be actual and never simply on paper.
In the meantime, navy mouthpiece Myawady Day by day has been that includes well being articles, preaching the deserves of intermittent fasting for well being and weight reduction.
Officers may need placed on some weight as they attempt to make as a lot hay as attainable whereas the solar shines, and line their pockets whereas the navy is in energy, whereas rank-and-file staff won’t have a lot work to do because the regime’s administration isn’t functioning—and thus began growing bulging bellies, sitting for lengthy hours at their desks and killing time earlier than they go house.
The junta’s Ministry of Well being and Sports activities has not but acquired such an instruction from the regime boss. When it does, maybe U Kyaw Oo, deputy director-general of the Sports activities and Bodily Schooling Division, who’s visibly overweight, would be the first to hold out the instruction in his ministry.
Christian leaders rebuked for accepting titles from junta chief
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, whose forces have broken church buildings in lots of components of the nation in artillery strikes whereas finishing up his orders, conferred titles on the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Convention of Myanmar, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, and the heads of different Christian organizations on Thursday as Myanmar marked its 102nd Nationwide Day.
Six Christian leaders together with Charles Maung Bo had been recipients of Thiri Pyanchi, a title historically given to those that have carried out nice work for the nation. The six drew criticism from Christian communities for accepting the titles from the regime at a time when it faces rising strain at house and overseas, and is pushing forward with a sham election.
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo additionally got here underneath fireplace at Christmas final yr after footage of him chopping a cake with the coup chief had been circulated on social media.
The regime has focused church buildings in Chin and Kayah states, claiming resistance fighters, whom it labels “terrorists”, are hiding in spiritual buildings. The regime has not solely shot at or shelled church buildings, but in addition torched them. Junta troops have additionally been deployed in church buildings and destroyed spiritual statues.
Min Aung Hlaing additionally conferred titles on U Khin Yi, the present chairman of the navy’s political proxy, the Union Solidarity and Improvement Occasion (USDP); former USDP chairman U Than Htay; U Soe Thane, who served as President’s Workplace minister within the U Thein Sein authorities; in addition to members of the regime’s governing physique, the State Administration Council, cupboard members, and generals serving within the Protection Ministry.
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