Coup military destroying statues of General Aung San to erase his history, with over 8 nationwide

The movement to destroy statues of General Aung San, the father of Myanmar's independence, has been increasing nationwide since the coup leader transformed into a caretaker government, aiming to obscure his historical image. On the night of July 1, two statues of General Aung San in Yangon Region were destroyed by the caretaker government's troops and the municipality using backhoes and dump trucks, according to local residents. Among the two statues of General Aung San in Sumangala Park, in South Okkalapa Township, Yangon Region, the statue led by former 88 Generation student leader U Ko Ko Gyi, and the statue erected in Myakantha Park, Ward (5), Thaketa Township, were destroyed overnight. Currently, these areas are covered with green tarpaulins and security has been increased. "Looking from Sumangala Road at the park entrance, you can see that the left statue is there, and the right statue has been covered with large boards, as if they don't want people to know it has been destroyed. Since it was destroyed overnight, it seems to be covered because the work is not yet finished," a resident of South Okkalapa Township, who witnessed the scene, told the Irrawaddy Times. Of the two statues of General Aung San in Sumangala Park, South Okkalapa Township, the statue led by former 88 Generation student leader U Ko Ko Gyi was destroyed, while the statue erected by former NLD party township representatives and relevant authorities remains intact. "I think those who have done wrong are afraid to face the truth and speak it, so they are doing this. Another reason is that they are gradually trying to obscure the historical image of General Aung San," the local resident continued. Furthermore, the statue of General Aung San erected in Myakantha Park, Ward (5), Thaketa Township, was also destroyed by the caretaker government's troops and the municipality using backhoes on the night of July 1, and security has been deployed in front of the park, according to local residents. Similarly, the statue of General Aung San in the center of YeU town, Sagaing Region, was destroyed on the night of June 28, and on the night of June 12, a portrait of General Aung San, which was hung in front of the residence of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (No. 54), was also removed. Prior to this, the 15-foot-tall, 453-pyar (approximately 7.3 tons) bronze statue of General Aung San, erected on Kan Road in Taungoo Township, Bago Region, which was visited by the caretaker president and his confidant, the new army chief, was also destroyed and removed by the caretaker government's troops and the municipality on the night of June 9. These actions have led to the destruction of statues in Naypyidaw's Pobbathiri Township, Mandalay Region's Sagi Township, Ayeyarwaddy Region's Pathein Township, and Bago Region's Bago City, where the military group, formed after the coup, has established its headquarters. The number of destroyed statues has now reached over eight, and there has been no response or explanation from the military. Veteran military officers and military circles who are participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and do not accept the military's unjust coup, stated that "while the caretaker government's troops often use General Aung San for political and military propaganda, in reality, they are intentionally working to erase his history with resentment and animosity." Photo: Social Media