Min Aung Hlaing has presented a first-class technology excellence award to Colonel General Myat Min Oo, Director of the Military (Army, Navy, Air Force) Information and Technology Department, who helped facilitate the military coup by falsely claiming irregularities in the 2020 election voter lists. The award ceremony was held at the military headquarters in Naypyidaw on March 13, with an official ceremony following on March 16. Colonel General Myat Min Oo played a crucial role in enabling Min Aung Hlaing’s military coup.
After the National League for Democracy’s landslide victory in the 2020 election, Myat Min Oo collaborated with Pyawbwe USDP candidate U Thaung Aye to conduct unauthorized inspections of voter lists. He then falsely reported to Min Aung Hlaing that there were irregularities in Pyawbwe’s voter lists. This provided the pretext for nationwide voter list inspections, which ultimately led to the military coup. Myat Min Oo, a graduate of the 36th intake of the Defense Services Academy, earned Min Aung Hlaing’s trust through these actions, though he did not receive the ministerial positions he had hoped for after the coup in either the Transport and Communications Ministry or the Science and Technology Ministry.
However, he maintains the trust of Vice Senior General Soe Win and plays a key role in the Immigration Department’s e-ID project. He also has secured lucrative contracts to supply computers and technology equipment to the military council. Currently, he leads technical cooperation projects with Russia and lives with his family inside the military headquarters compound in Naypyidaw, having relocated from Yangon’s Myaynigone area after the coup for security reasons.
Colonel General Myat Min Oo continues to play a vital role in sustaining the military council’s grip on power and stands as a historical perpetrator of war crimes. His actions in fabricating election irregularities and supporting the military coup have made him a significant figure in Myanmar’s recent history of military oppression. Through his position as Director of the Military Information and Technology Department, he continues to serve the interests of the military council while being recognized with awards for his technical contributions to their cause.
