Military council leader Min Aung Hlaing’s family has constructed a large, luxurious mansion in Pyin Oo Lwin where they frequently spend time for leisure. According to military and administrative sources in Pyin Oo Lwin, the seizure of civilian homes and land plots in the city has been carried out under direct orders from the military leader, using security as a pretext.
In March of this year, the military forcibly demolished and seized homes and land plots covering 200.14 acres in Yay Chan Ote ward, Pyin Oo Lwin Township, where approximately 1,000 households and around 30,000 residents lived. Of the seized land, 50 acres along the main road frontage was taken by Min Aung Hlaing’s son Aung Pyae Sone, while the remaining land was designated as military property. The land seizure was led by Defense Services Commander General Ko Ko Oo and Mandalay Region Chief Minister Myoe Aung under Min Aung Hlaing’s orders.
Additionally, on July 22, 2025, approximately 300 homes and monasteries in Zee Pin Gyi village, Pyin Oo Lwin Township, were ordered to be demolished under Min Aung Hlaing’s command. On July 23, the military forcibly entered and destroyed the homes using excavators and bulldozers. Min Aung Hlaing frequently visits his mansion in Pyin Oo Lwin during Thingyan festival, December DSA and DSTA graduation ceremonies, and Thadingyut festival periods. His children and grandchildren also regularly travel to and from the Pyin Oo Lwin mansion by helicopter.
Min Aung Hlaing considers Pyin Oo Lwin his second home and refers to it as the City of Flowers, Cherry City, and Mountain Stairs City. To match these designations, he has initiated various development projects since the military coup, including private hospitals, cancer specialty hospitals, a six-story shopping center at Thu Mingala Market, and recreational facilities. The Be Falls recreation area project was also transferred with full operating rights to his son Aung Pyae Sone’s company for upgrading to international standards. These actions demonstrate how the military leader has used his position to benefit his family while displacing local residents through forced land seizures and demolitions.
