According to the military council’s announcement, despite thousands of civilian casualties and extensive destruction caused by the major earthquake in Sagaing Region, terrorist military council leader Min Aung Hlaing and high-ranking military officers are celebrating the Thingyan festival with festivities in Naypyidaw. On April 13, Min Aung Hlaing, Soe Win, Aung Lin Dwe, and other top military officers attended ceremonies at the Naypyidaw City Hall and Naypyidaw Walking Thingyan events. They participated in water-throwing activities, watched parade floats, and engaged in water festival celebrations.
During the Thingyan festival’s thanaka-applying demonstration, all generals including Deputy Military Leader Soe Win received thanaka applications on their faces, except for Min Aung Hlaing. However, the military council has strictly prohibited the distribution of photographs showing Soe Win and other generals with thanaka on their faces. A military source in Naypyidaw confirmed that except for the Commander-in-Chief, all other generals had thanaka applied to their faces, and there were strict orders preventing clear photographs of this from being released to the public.
The terrorist military council leader Min Aung Hlaing is expected to spend the current Thingyan period between Naypyidaw and Pyin Oo Lwin. While the people in Sagaing Region are suffering from deaths, injuries, and massive destruction of homes due to the earthquake disaster, the military council leaders’ engagement in festivities demonstrates their lack of concern for the public’s welfare. The celebration of the Thingyan festival in Naypyidaw while rescue operations are desperately needed in earthquake-affected areas reflects the military council’s priorities. Their actions show a stark contrast between the suffering of earthquake victims and the military leadership’s festive celebrations, highlighting their disconnection from the people’s hardships.
