During the BIMSTEC meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand, a meeting between coup leader Min Aung Hlaing and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay sparked significant international controversy. The meeting, which took place during the two-day conference on April 3rd and 4th, was initially publicized by the Bhutanese Prime Minister on his social media account, where he shared photos of the encounter and expressed his satisfaction with the meeting, stating his intention to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
However, within hours of the photos spreading on social media, a massive wave of criticism emerged. Citizens from Bhutan, Thailand, Myanmar, and democratic forces worldwide strongly condemned the Bhutanese Prime Minister’s actions. Myanmar citizens particularly emphasized that Min Aung Hlaing is not the legitimate leader of Myanmar, but rather a military dictator who continues to perpetrate daily violence against the people. The social media post attracted numerous critical comments and sparked widespread condemnation across various platforms, with users expressing their disappointment and concern over the diplomatic engagement with the military junta leader.
As a result of the mounting criticism, the Bhutanese Prime Minister was compelled to remove the post containing the photos and text about the meeting with Min Aung Hlaing from his social media account on the morning of April 5th. This development represents a significant victory for the collective voice of Myanmar’s people and the active protest of democratic forces on social media. Currently, Myanmar citizens are continuing their campaign of criticism and protest by directing their attention to Indian Prime Minister Modi’s social media accounts, where similar photos of meetings with Min Aung Hlaing have been posted, demonstrating their ongoing resistance against international recognition of the military junta leadership.
