The leader of Myanmar’s military government, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, is attending a regional summit in Thailand, marking a rare international trip since the military took power and initiated a harsh crackdown on dissent. This comes after a devastating earthquake in Myanmar that resulted in thousands of deaths. Despite being under global sanctions and wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, Min Aung Hlaing, who ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, has been greeted by Thailand’s labour minister upon his arrival. His presence at the summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has been met with controversy, with Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, India’s Narendra Modi, and representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand joining him. Discussions during the summit focused on technical and economic issues, while outside, protesters condemned Min Aung Hlaing, calling him a “murderer,” and urging BIMSTEC to deny the military junta participation. The situation in Myanmar remains tense, with the country still grappling with the aftermath of the earthquake and ongoing military operations against rebel groups despite calls for a temporary ceasefire. The inclusion of Min Aung Hlaing at the summit has been criticized by activists and the shadow government established by elected politicians, arguing it legitimizes and emboldens the military junta.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/4/myanmars-military-junta-chief-joins-bangkok-summit-in-rare-trip-abroad?traffic_source=rss