Min Aung Hlaing hints at change on Armed Forces Day
Regime leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing stated that the military continues to be the “guardian of the nation” – after it staged a coup that ousted the democratically-elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government on Feb. 1, 2021 – at the 81st Armed Forces Day parade in Naypyidaw on Friday. Five years to the day when over 100 anti-coup protesters were killed by soldiers and police on March 27, 2021.
Min Aung Hlaing is widely expected to be named president this week as the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Burma’s bicameral legislature, will reconvene today for its third week – since the 2021 coup – to begin the selection process for three vice-presidents of which one will become president. Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) Chairperson Khin Yi was selected speaker of the Pyitthu Hluttaw, or lower house of parliament, and regime minister Maung Maung Ohn as his deputy on March 16.
Min Aung Hlaing claimed that “union accords” with 43 constitutional amendments will be submitted to parliament this week. Last week, four parliamentary committees were formed to scrutinise proposed legislation to ensure it complies with the 2008 Constitution. Deputy regime leader Soe Win told a ceremony for retired soldiers in Naypyidaw on March 26 that a change in military leadership is to be expected following Armed Forces Day on March 27. Read more
Does his family own a $3 million home in Thailand?
Whistleblower group Justice For Myanmar published a new investigation into Min Aung Hlaing on Wednesday, revealing that his family purchased a luxury property in the Issara Residence Rama 9 development in the Thai capital Bangkok in 2022 for 98 million THB ($3 million USD). Thai law prohibits foreigners from owning land.
“These high value real estate purchases violate Thai law and the Thai government now needs to urgently step up, investigate and prosecute those involved, including Min Aung Hlaing and his family members, and seize their assets,” Yadanar Maung, the Justice For Myanmar spokesperson, shared in a press release on March 25.
The property was sold by the Stock Exchange of Thailand listed company Charn Issara Development Public Company Limited and was transferred to Emerald Princess Company Limited, which is owned by three Thai citizens. JFM found that Emerald Princess is a proxy company for Min Aung Hlaing’s family and that the purchase was negotiated in the name of Myo Yadana Htaik, his daughter-in-law.
One year since Myanmar earthquake on March 28
Min Aung Hlaing told attendees at a memorial in Naypyidaw marking the first anniversary of the 7.7-magnitude March 28 earthquake on Saturday that 3,818 bodies were recovered from the rubble and debris of damaged or destroyed buildings, and five people still remain missing. Another 424,063 people were impacted by the quake with 279,111 people “temporarily” displaced from their homes in six regions.
Min Aung Hlaing added that 653 were rescued and 5,104 people were injured. The regime in Naypyidaw claimed that it has provided over five trillion MMK ($1.1 billion USD) in support to the families of survivors and for the restoration of buildings in the six hardest-hit regions of Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago, Magway, Naypyidaw, and southern Shan. The amount of destruction is estimated at seven trillion MMK ($1.6 billion USD).
Michael Dunford, the World Food Programme (WFP) country director, stated in a press release on March 27 that the people of Burma need to be protected from a global fuel crisis due to the war in the Middle East. WFP claimed that it needs $150 million USD in funding for 2026 to support 1.5 million people across Burma, adding that it has supported 500,000 earthquake survivors over the past year. Read more
Check out our photos from ‘Shaken but Unbroken: 1-year since the Myanmar earthquake’ in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on March 28.
News by Region
NAYPYIDAW—Sources told DVB that regime spokesperson Zaw Min Tun was dismissed from his position – held since the 2021 coup – as the director of the Public Relations and Psychological Warfare Directorate on March 25. He was replaced by his deputy at the directorate Ye Yint Aung.
A source in the regime told DVB on the condition of anonymity that Zaw Min Tun was dismissed due to an “unnecessary” disclosure about Min Aung Hlaing’s spinal surgery on March 23. Zaw Min Tun remains a member of the regime’s National Defence and Security Council and its deputy minister for information.
SAGAING—Residents of Tigyaing Township told DVB that regime forces regained control of Maungkone village from the People’s Defence Force (PDF) over the weekend. A village resident told DVB that regime forces will appoint an administrator. Tigyaing is located 182 miles (292 km) northeast of the region’s capital Monywa.
Maungkone is home to the China-funded Tagaung Taung nickel-processing plant, which was seized by the PDF in 2024. At least 3,000 Tigyaing residents have been displaced since fighting against regime forces began on March 19. Tigyaing is partially administered by the National Unity Government (NUG).
YANGON—Nearly 1.7 million residents took public transportation on March 25 – an increase of 300,000 commuters since Feb. 28 – according to the Yangon Region Transport Committee (YRTC). Sixty more buses were added to the Yangon Bus Service (YBS) to serve the increasing number of passengers due to rising fuel prices in Burma.
One litre of 92-octane gasoline rose from 3,610-4,450 to MMK ($0.80-1.05 USD) with 95-octane gasoline up from 3,850-4,975 to MMK ($0.90-1.1 USD). Diesel rose from 4,390-5,450 MMK ($1-1.2 USD) with premium diesel going up 4,820-6,085 MMK ($1.1-1.4 USD) March 25-29.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,330 MMK)
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