Min Aung Hlaing Orders Complete Demolition of All General Aung San Statues Built During NLD Government Era

Yangon, July 3 Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing ordered the complete removal and demolition of all General Aung San bronze statues and political monuments built during the National League for Democracy (NLD) government era, according to a military source in Naypyidaw. The order was given during a meeting with state and regional chief ministers held in Naypyidaw on June 25 and 26. During the meeting, Min Aung Hlaing instructed that all General Aung San statues built during the NLD government era be removed and demolished, and directed the military security department and police intelligence unit to submit daily reports on the progress of the work in each township. It is understood that an urgent inventory of the locations, construction dates, and detailed information of all General Aung San bronze statues built during the NLD government era across the country has been compiled in townships within the respective states and regions, and all General Aung San statues will be removed. "The main focus is on removing the General Aung San bronze statues built during the NLD government era. Statues and monuments built in previous eras are not included. Furthermore, other political monuments erected during the NLD era have also been ordered to be removed," the military source in Naypyidaw explained. Currently, General Aung San bronze statues across the country are being continuously removed and demolished at night under strict security measures, using cranes, backhoes, and bulldozers. In Tamwe Township, Yangon Region, starting around 10 p.m. on July 1, the military and the Yangon City Development Committee used backhoes and bulldozers to demolish and remove two General Aung San bronze statues. One of the statues was built under the leadership of Ko Ko Gyi, a leader of the 88 Generation Students, while the other was built by the General Aung San Bronze Statue Steering Committee and township People's Pyithu Hluttaw representatives in Tamwe Township. These statues were erected on February 13, 2017, to commemorate the 102nd birthday of General Aung San, allowing the public to pay their respects. They were cast in the style of the long coat General Aung San wore when he traveled to England for independence negotiations, standing 9 feet tall and weighing 300 viss (approximately 180 kg). Similarly, on the night of July 1, a General Aung San bronze statue in Myakantha Park, Thaketa Township, was also demolished and removed by the military and the City Development Committee using backhoes. This statue was built in February 2015, to commemorate the 100th birthday of General Aung San, with donations collected from the residents of Thaketa Township. It was one of the first General Aung San bronze statues built with public donations at the township level in Yangon city. The statue was cast based on a historic photograph of General Aung San during his time as the leader of the Rangoon University Students' Union and was considered a historically valuable monument for the residents of Thaketa. Furthermore, a General Aung San bronze statue erected within the compound of the City Development Office in Kayan Township, Yangon Region, was also demolished and removed by a backhoe on the night of July 2. In Kungyaung Township, Ayeyarwady Region, on the early morning of July 2, the military council's troops used cranes to remove a General Aung San bronze statue located in Aung San Ward. In recent months, the military council has continuously demolished and removed General Aung San bronze statues in Ye-U Township, Sagaing Region; Taungoo Township, Bago Region; Pobbathiri Township, Naypyidaw; Bago City; Pathein City; and Thazi Township, Mandalay Region, at night under strict security, using cranes, backhoes, and bulldozers. The military council is currently continuing to remove General Aung San bronze statues and political monuments built during the NLD government era across the country and is closely monitoring the public's reactions to these actions, according to the military source in Naypyidaw.