Myanmar military removes General Aung San statues nationwide

Thairath•International•13h ago

Reader Briefing

The Myanmar military government is removing statues of General Aung San from various public spaces across the country.

•Statues of General Aung San have been removed from Yangon and Mudon in Mon State.
•The military government claims removals are for correcting improper proportions and shapes.
•Analysts suggest the action aims to reduce the political influence and symbols linked to Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD.
•Some ethnic groups previously protested the installation of these statues as symbols of Bamar dominance.

•The Myanmar military government has been removing statues of General Aung San from public parks and areas nationwide.
•A large statue of General Aung San in Thumingala Park, Yangon, which stood for nearly 10 years, was removed and replaced with grass.
•Residents in Myegong Park in Yangon and Mudon in Mon State reported that officials removed statues in late June.
•Senior General Min Aung Hlaing admitted to the removals but stated the statues had incorrect proportions and shapes and require systematic restoration.
•Between 2016 and 2020, the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi increased the construction of General Aung San statues.
•Analysts suggest the Myanmar military is removing the statues to make Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD politically insignificant after the 2021 coup.
•Morgan Michaels from the IISS noted that ethnic groups such as the Kachin and Kayah previously viewed the statues as symbols of Bamar power expansion.
•Khai Khai So, spokesperson for the Myanmar military government, stated the government does not intend to destroy the statues but is conducting systematic improvements.

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General Aung San(นายพลอองซาน)

The founding hero of Myanmar, father of Aung San Suu Kyi, and known as the father of Myanmar's independence.

Aung San Suu Kyi(อองซาน ซูจี)ℹ️

Former leader of the civilian government and daughter of General Aung San who was detained after the 2021 coup.

Min Aung Hlaing(มิน อ่อง หล่าย)ℹ️

Senior General and leader of the Myanmar military government who led the 2021 coup.

Mo Thuzar(โม ธูซาร์)

An expert on Myanmar who analyzed the political motives behind the statue removals.

Khai Khai So(ไข่ ไข่ โซ)

Female spokesperson for the Myanmar military government.

Morgan Michaels(มอร์แกน ไมเคิลส์)

Researcher and Myanmar expert from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Myanmar Military Government(รัฐบาลทหาร)

The current governing body of Myanmar led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

National League for Democracy(พรรคสันนิบาตแห่งชาติเพื่อประชาธิปไตย)ℹ️

The political party led by Aung San Suu Kyi that administered the country between 2016 and 2020.

International Institute for Strategic Studies(สถาบันระหว่างประเทศเพื่อการศึกษาเชิงยุทธศาสตร์)ℹ️

The organization where researcher Morgan Michaels is based.

Thumingala Park(สวนสาธารณะธูมินกาลา)

A public park in Yangon where a large statue of General Aung San was removed.

Yangon(นครย่างกุ้ง)ℹ️

A city in Myanmar where multiple statues of General Aung San have been removed.

Myegong Park(สวนสาธารณะเมียะกานธา)

A park in Yangon where officials removed a statue of General Aung San in late June.

Mudon(เมืองมูโด่ง)ℹ️

A town in Mon State where a statue of General Aung San was removed in late June.

Mon State(รัฐมอญ)ℹ️

A state in southern Myanmar.