By Cherry May / MPA
April 3rd will be recorded as a day of national shame in Myanmar’s history. Military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has finally fulfilled his lifelong ambition, assuming the presidency through a puppet parliament acting out a script he wrote himself.
However, to the people of Myanmar, this is not the elevation of a dignified head of state. Instead, it is seen as the “Throne of a Criminal,” built upon a foundation of bloody war crimes.
A Path Stained with Blood and Ambition
Min Aung Hlaing’s obsession with the presidency led him to seize power by force in 2021, toppling a government elected by the people. His ambition, however, predates the coup. Between 2018 and 2019, despite his role as Commander-in-Chief, he frequently engaged in photo ops with religious and social organizations—even Muslim groups the military has historically persecuted—in a transparent attempt to campaign for the office.
The decision to nullify the 2020 election results and stage a coup was ultimately driven by his fear of losing power upon his mandatory retirement at age 65. He chose to seize the presidential chair by force rather than step into obscurity.
Internationally Labeled a War Criminal
On April 2nd, the very eve of his “presidential selection,” an airstrike in Ngapali, Rakhine State, wiped out an entire family. This act serves as a grim testament to the brutality defining his path to power.
The international community has not remained silent:
- The British Government has announced that it has fully documented the atrocities committed by the military commission.
- Amnesty International issued a stern warning that assuming the title of “President” does not grant him immunity from the crimes he has committed.
- The Argentine Judiciary made history in 2025 by issuing arrest warrants for Min Aung Hlaing, his deputy Soe Win, and 21 other high-ranking officials. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) continues its scrutiny of his actions.
To the world, Min Aung Hlaing is not a president; he is a wanted war criminal.
A Mockery Amid National Ruin
While Min Aung Hlaing prepares his ceremonies and regalia, the people of Myanmar are struggling for survival. Families face crushing inflation and wait for hours in the scorching sun just to buy fuel.
The public’s disdain is palpable. Residents in Yangon and Mawlamyine have mocked the announcement, with one local remarking, “Min Aung Hlaing becoming president is less interesting than a dog fight at the corner of the street.”
While China was among the first to recognize the new junta-led government to protect its “Belt and Road” interests, revolutionary forces at home and abroad refuse to recognize this fraudulent administration.
The Inevitable Conclusion
Min Aung Hlaing, who rose to the position of Commander-in-Chief largely through the patronage of former dictator Than Shwe, has pushed the country into an abyss to satisfy his ego.
The title he claimed today cannot mask his crimes, nor can it halt his trajectory toward a disastrous end. This “presidential journey,” paid for with the blood of the people, is destined to face the final verdict of justice.
Edited by: Ko Sann
