During a press conference in Belarus, military council leader Min Aung Hlaing made confusing statements mixing unrelated concepts of economic sanctions and computer software, drawing criticism from media council members and journalists. At the March 7 press conference, Min Aung Hlaing claimed that when faced with economic sanctions, computer software would gain more collective strength and increase competition – a statement that experts say demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of both concepts.
U Toe Zaw Latt, Secretary of the Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM), analyzed that Min Aung Hlaing spoke without properly understanding the meanings of economic sanctions and computer software. He pointed out that economic sanctions and computer software are completely unrelated matters, and Min Aung Hlaing’s statements were essentially meaningless, suggesting that the military leader may have confused sanctions with computer software concepts.
A veteran domestic journalist also noted that this incident was reminiscent of former leader Thein Sein’s misuse of terminology regarding the 2008 Constitution, comparing it to Min Aung Hlaing’s current misunderstanding and incorrect usage of terms related to sanctions and software. Furthermore, it was observed that during his meetings with Russian leader Putin and the Belarus President, Min Aung Hlaing was unable to communicate in English and had to rely entirely on interpreters, speaking only in Myanmar language. The journalist also noted that Min Aung Hlaing had previously presented Putin with a book that claimed, without historical evidence or documentation, that Putin was a prophesied ‘rat king’, further demonstrating a pattern of questionable communications and understanding.
