The Myanmar junta reshuffled at least 30 high-ranking military officers last month, according to a former military officer participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and two sources close to the officers. Those reshuffled ranged in rank from lieutenant colonel to major general.
Late last month, the junta’s military headquarters relieved five major generals—including Major General Saw Than Hlaing, the head of Naypyitaw Command—of their duties and shunted them to the reserve forces. On May 31, it also promoted 25 Grade 1 (G1) lieutenant colonels to strategic commander posts.
The vacant position at the head of Naypyitaw Command was filled by Major General Soe Min, who was formerly the Coastal Region commander. That position was filled by Brigadier General Pyae Sone Lin from the military headquarters, according to the sources.
The other four major generals fired by junta chief Min Aung Hlaing were the heads of the Directorate of Signals, Directorate of Defense Industries, Directorate of Armored Warfare and Directorate of Artillery, under the Ministry of Defense.
They were replaced by two brigadier generals and two major generals. Among them, Major General Tin Soe formerly served at the Adjutant General’s Office.
The sources said Min Aung Hlaing fired the five major generals as they had been serving for six years without performing sufficiently well to warrant promotion.
Two CDM soldiers explained that according to an instruction issued by a defense council, the military headquarters can fire any major general who fails to earn a promotion after spending six years at that rank.
Former Captain Zin Yar, a CDM participant, said firing the five major generals and replacing them with three younger major generals and two brigadier generals was a sign the junta chief wants to clear the way for the younger generation of officers to rise to the top ranks.
“Min Aung Hlaing is filling the lineup with the people he prefers and trusts more,” he said, adding that the reshuffle showed he was concerned about a mutiny and looking to prevent such a scenario.
From informants still serving in the military, Capt. Zin Yaw acquired a list of the 25 G1 lieutenant colonels promoted to strategic commander positions. Twelve of the 25 formerly served in departments at the junta’s military headquarters in Naypyitaw.
Of these 12 officers, 11 have been sent to commands and divisions in states and regions throughout country that are witnessing heavy fighting between regime and resistance forces. Only one of the 12 officers, Lieutenant Colonel Kyaw Khaing Lin, was transferred to a post at the Naypyitaw Command.
Sources close to the junta’s military said Lt-Col Kyaw Khaing Lin has close ties with Min Aung Hlaing, who decided to keep him nearby.
According to Capt. Zin Yaw, since Lt-Col Kyaw Khaing Lin graduated from the Defense Services Academy, he has never been posted outside Naypyitaw. The fact that such a young and inexperienced officer is part of Min Aung Hlaing’s inner circle was a sign of how few people Min Aung Hlaing feels he can trust, Capt. Zin Yaw said.
The 25 officers being replaced were mostly transferred to departments under regime ministries, but a few were fired or died in clashes with resistance forces.
Since the 2021 coup attempt, Min Aung Hlaing has frequently reshuffled his cabinet as well as the senior ranks of the military.
The recent reshuffles of the directorate and Naypyitaw Command heads, and the decision to keep such a young officer close by him in Naypyitaw are sure signs that all is not well in Naypyitaw, Capt. Zin Yaw said.
“What we can say for sure is that he [Min Aung Hlaing] is having a hard time finding people he can trust to serve near him,” he said.
