Ultranationalist monks, army supporters call on Min Aung Hlaing to resign

Staunch supporters of Myanmar’s military, including a number of prominent ultranationalist monks, held a rally in army stronghold Pyin Oo Lwin on Tuesday calling for the removal of coup regime leader Min Aung Hlaing as commander-in-chief. The rally, ostensibly held to protest the destruction of a Buddhist pagoda in northern Shan State by a member of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army—part of an ethnic alliance that has been waging a major offensive against the junta since late October—soon turned into a very vocal vote of non-confidence in Min Aung Hlaing’s leadership. According to pro-regime social media accounts, the gathering was attended by some 3,200 people, including military veterans, members of the military proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party, junta-appointed ward and village administrators, and a number of monks notorious for their rabidly anti-Muslim views. Among the Buddhist clerics who made an appearance were U Thucitta, U Pandita, and U Ariya Wunsa, all associated with the now-defunct Buddhist nationalist organisation Ma Ba Tha. Of these, U Ariya Wunsa—often called “the Pauk monk” because he is based in Magway Region’s Pauk Township—played the lead in calling on Min Aung Hlaing to step down. “Wouldn’t it be good if the commander-in-chief of the defence services transitioned to a civilian ministry? He shouted from the stage, eliciting supportive cheers from the army backers below. Speaking to his enthusiastic audience, he also expressed his readiness to face arrest if his request led to any repercussions. A pro-army rally in Pyin Oo Lwin on January 16 Nearly three years after overthrowing Myanmar’s civilian government, Min Aung Hlaing’s regime continues to face fierce resistance from an array of armed groups across the country. Since late last year, it has suffered a string of defeats that have weakened its hold over border areas and jeopardised its control over resources and lucrative trade with China, Thailand, and India. Referring to this massive loss of revenue to the military’s opponents, U Ariya Wunsa described Min Aung Hlaing as a benevolent “donor” to the anti-regime cause. He also made it clear who he thought should replace the current junta chief as head of the armed forces: Vice Senior General Soe Win, the vice chairman of the military council. “Observe his demeanour. Does he not look like a real soldier? Pay attention to his facial expressions, his mannerisms in the role of the deputy-chief. Do you not appreciate it?” he continued, prompting more cheers and applause. U Ariya Wunsa at a pro-junta rally in Pyin Oo Lwin in October 2021 Even before the military was facing its current difficulties, U Ariya Wunsa was already declaring his preference, posting a photo of Soe Win on his Facebook page on November 8 and calling him “a true soldier and a true good leader.” U Ariya Wunsa is a direct disciple of U Wirathu, the Ma Ba Tha leader once dubbed “the face of Buddhist terror” for his role in promoting hatred towards the Rohingya and other Muslim minorities in Myanmar. In 2018, he was arrested alongside other ultranationalist monks for establishing a protest camp in Mandalay to oppose the then-ruling National League for Democracy government, an offence for which he spent about a year in Mandalay’s Obo Prison. After the military coup in 2021, he again returned to prominence, playing a role in helping the military to form pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia groups. On Wednesday, regime-controlled newspapers reported the Pyin Oo Lwin rally, but failed to mention the calls for Min Aung Hlaing’s resignation.

Ultranationalist monks, army supporters call on Min Aung Hlaing to resign

A leading pro-junta monk expressed his willingness to face arrest for calling on the regime’s leader to step down as armed forces chief

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