The military council’s war office has issued a warning to the newly appointed Minister of Home Affairs, Deputy General Tun Tun Naung, after revolutionary forces successfully attacked seven police outposts along the Yangon-Mandalay old road and railway line, despite orders for heightened security measures. According to military sources in Naypyidaw, these attacks occurred shortly after Deputy General Tun Tun Naung took office as Minister of Home Affairs on January 31. The incidents took place on February 25 and 26 in Kyauktaga and Pyuu townships within the Bago Region, before the minister had completed his first month in the position.
During these attacks, eight members of the military council’s forces were killed, while one revolutionary fighter was lost in action. In response to these incidents, Deputy Military Leader Senior General Soe Win strongly pressured Minister Tun Tun Naung, while local police chiefs were also severely reprimanded for security negligence. Sources indicate that while the previous Minister of Home Affairs, Deputy General Ya Pyae, and Soe Win had maintained excellent relations as graduates of the Defense Services Academy Intake 22, the relationship between the new minister Tun Tun Naung (DSA 25) and Soe Win has been notably strained. This tension has become increasingly apparent in the aftermath of the recent security breaches.
Following the National Unity Government (NUG) Prime Minister Man Win Khaing Than’s official deployment orders to People’s Defense Force units for operations in Yangon and Bago regions, which was announced on February 23, the military council issued emergency directives on February 24 to substantially increase security presence along the Yangon-Mandalay expressway, the old highway, and the border areas between Bago and Yangon regions. However, these enhanced security measures proved ineffective in preventing the revolutionary forces’ coordinated attacks. These developments have reportedly heightened concerns within the military council regarding the Home Affairs Ministry’s ability to maintain security, leading to increased scrutiny of the new minister’s leadership and effectiveness in his role.
