Irrawaddy-Dec 1
A Russian military delegation arrived in Myanmar and met junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw on Tuesday. It marked the first high-level meeting between the two sides since Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in September. The Russian delegation comprised around a dozen senior military officers, led by Colonel-General Kim Alexey Rostislavovich, first deputy commander of Russian Ground Forces, and Russia’s military attaché to Myanmar Colonel Sergey Kurchenko. The two sides focused on cooperation in defense and counterterrorism between their two militaries, saying this would contribute to “regional and global peace”. Moscow is supplying weapons including jet fighters that Myanmar’s junta is using to bomb armed resistance and civilian targets. It has also trained more than 7,000 Myanmar military officers since 2000. A day after being hosted by Min Aung Hlaing, the Russians took part in the first meeting of the Myanmar-Russia Anti-Terrorist Committee, jointly chaired by Colonel-General Rostislavovich and Myanmar’s Lieutenant-General Moe Myint Tun. The junta did not reveal what was discussed at the meeting. But with the military regime labeling the parallel National Unity Government, its parliamentary body, and its People’s Defense Force (PDF) armed wing as terrorists, the meeting signals further help from Russia to crush the popular revolt in Myanmar. According to a recent panel discussion by military sympathizers aired on Myawaddy TV, a military mouthpiece, Russia will soon provide counterterrorism training, expert advice, and modern weapons and technologies to crush the PDFs.Myanmar’s junta is fighting a war on multiple fronts with PDFs and ethnic armed organizations including the Karen National Liberation Army, Kachin Independence Army, and Karenni Army. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/the-world-myanmar/top-russian-general-meets-with-myanmar-junta-chief.html
