During a press conference in Belarus, military council leader Min Aung Hlaing made confusing statements that inappropriately connected economic sanctions with computer software, according to various sources. At the March 7 press conference, he claimed that when faced with economic sanctions, computer software would gain more collective strength and intensify competition. However, experts note that these statements are difficult to interpret and lack coherence.
U Toe Zaw Latt, Secretary of the Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM), analyzed that Min Aung Hlaing appears to have spoken without properly understanding the meanings of economic sanctions and computer software. He clarified that economic sanctions are pressure measures imposed on a country, while computer software refers to programs used for computer operations, and there is no logical connection between these two concepts. The statement demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of both terms and their applications.
A veteran domestic journalist also pointed out that this is reminiscent of former leader Thein Sein’s misuse of terminology when he incorrectly referred to the 2008 Constitution as the National Convention. Similarly, Min Aung Hlaing seems to have misunderstood and misapplied the concepts of economic sanctions and software, resulting in statements that make little sense in any context. Furthermore, it has been observed that Min Aung Hlaing consistently relies on interpreters when meeting with international leaders, as he is unable to communicate directly in English. This language barrier may contribute to such misunderstandings and misstatements in international forums.
