In
March 2011, Min Aung Hlaing succeeded Sr Gen Than
Shwe as Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief. He has a
reputation as a hardliner and has rapidly become
a rising star within the regime.
A
native of Tavoy, Tenasserim Division, Min Aung
Hlaing graduated from the 19th intake of the Defense
Services Academy (DSA). According to sources,
Min Aung Hlaing’s classmates at the military
academy shunned him because of his reserved personality.
Min
Aung Hlaing went on to command Light Infantry
Division (LID) 44 based in Thaton, Mon State.
In 2002, he was promoted to Commander of the Triangle
Regional Command and became a key player in dealing
with two ceasefire groups United Wa State Army
(UWSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA).
During
the Saffron Revolution, Min Aung Hlaing was among
those who supported the brutal crackdown on the
monk-led protests.
In
June 2008, he was promoted to Chief of Bureau
of Special Operations-2 (BSO-2), a position that
oversees military affairs in Karenni and Shan
States. As BSO-2 Chief he was responsible for
the implementation of the regime’s Border
Guard Force (BGF) plan in the region. Working
with former Military Affairs Security chief Lt
Gen Ye Myint, he pressured ceasefire groups to
convert into BGFs under Tatmadaw control.
In
August 2009, when the Kokang ceasefire group Myanmar
National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) rejected
the order to be transformed into a BGF, Min Aung
Hlaing oversaw the military offensive against
them. The attack broke the ceasefire agreement
signed in 1989 between the regime and the MNDAA.
During military operations, Tatmadaw soldiers
committed human rights abuses and carried out
widespread looting of property in Laogai, Kokang
region’s main city and MNDAA stronghold.
The offensive also pushed 37, 000 refugees to
flee to China.
In
June 2010, Min Aung Hlaing replaced Gen Shwe Mann
as Joint Chief of Staff of the Army, Navy, and
Air Force. |
