Min Aung Hlaing has awarded a first-class technology excellence medal to Brigadier General Myat Min Oo, Director of the Military Information and Technology Department, who played a key role in enabling the military coup by falsely claiming irregularities in the 2020 election results. The award ceremony was held at the military headquarters in Naypyidaw on March 13, with an official ceremony following on March 16. Brigadier General Myat Min Oo was instrumental in facilitating Min Aung Hlaing’s seizure of power through his role in fabricating claims of electoral fraud.
Following the National League for Democracy’s landslide victory in the 2020 elections, he collaborated with U Thaung Aye, a USDP candidate from Pyawbwe township, 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. The fabricated claims of millions of irregularities in voter lists became the military’s primary justification for seizing power through force.
A graduate of the 36th intake of the Defense Services Academy, Brigadier General Myat Min Oo earned Min Aung Hlaing’s trust but failed to secure his hoped-for positions as Minister of Transport and Communications or Minister of Science and Technology after the coup. However, he maintains close ties with Vice Senior General Soe Win and plays a central role in key technological initiatives including the e-ID project. He currently leads collaboration with Russia on technology projects and has profited significantly from importing computer and IT equipment for the military council at inflated prices.
Previously residing in Yangon’s Myaynigone area, he relocated with his family to the military headquarters compound in Naypyidaw after the coup due to security concerns. Brigadier 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 electoral fraud claims directly enabled the military’s violent seizure of power, making him a key figure in the coup that has devastated Myanmar’s democratic transition and led to widespread human rights violations against civilians.
