Min Aung Hlaing has once again blamed others for Myanmar’s escalating crisis and his continuous military defeats. This time, he pointed his finger at Myanmar people who he said have a “destructive mindset.”
Addressing Friday’s cabinet meeting, the junta boss lamented the kyat’s steep depreciation against other currencies, blaming ‘self-serving people’ who he accused of manipulating currency markets and using dirty money to buy property abroad.
He failed to mention that the coup and ensuing human rights violations by his regime have driven most foreign direct investment out of the country, resulting in shortages of hard currency. Nor did he mention his flawed economic policies and tight control of US dollars.
“Our country is being destroyed primarily by destructive-minded citizens,” said the regime boss, referring to a popular uprising against the coup.
His regime’s efforts to build a ‘true democracy’ were being marred by destructive-minded people, he added.
Loss of control over large swaths of the country has forced the junta boss to repeatedly postpone plans for an election widely condemned as a bogus attempt to cement military rule
Local disruptive elements and terrorists were responsible for destructive acts in their regions and states, said Min Aung Hlaing, neglecting to mention that he heads an aerial and ground campaign targeting civilian infrastructure and populations.
He accused the ‘destructive elements’ of “cutting the branches of the tree whose shade is sheltering them.”
Min Aung Hlaing has previously blamed Myanmar people for being lazy and not working hard enough as the reason why the country is lagging behind its neighbors.
He has also pointed a finger at the parallel National Unity Government and its armed wing, the People’s Defense Force, which he calls terrorist organizations. He has even blamed the economic slump on his military senior, ex-general Thein Sein, whose quasi-civilian government held power from 2011 to 2016.
The latest episode of his blame game came after domestic gold prices soared again and the exchange rate hit a record low, exacerbating financial hardship for Myanmar people.
While labeling others destructive elements and terrorists, Min Aung Hlaing continues to prosecute a terror campaign against civilians. In late May, his military massacred dozens of Sittwe civilians in western Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where it is losing the battle against the ethnic Arakan Army. Earlier this month, it bombed a wedding reception in Mingin Township, Sagaing Region, again killing dozens.
Witnesses said at least nine more were killed in a airstrike on a Sagaing monastery on Saturday.
The regime’s efforts to establish legitimacy and garner public support since the coup have failed, prompting it to repeatedly extend the state of emergency. It has been forced to declare martial law in some 50 townships and lost control of dozens of towns in northern Shan, Rakhine, Kachin, Kayah (Karenni) and Chin states and central Myanmar.
