Irrawaddy-Jan 13
t’s time for Min Aung Hlaing to go. That’s what some of his most vocal and ardent supporters are saying publicly. They cite what they describe as his incompetence, selfishness and lack of backbone, accusing him of guiding a military once considered invincible into a state of inconsolable shame and desperation. After high-profile regime cheerleader Maung Maung switched his tune on Saturday, others followed suit. “Three years is enough for U Min Aung Hlaing,” Maung Maung announced on his YouTube channel. “U Ming Aung Hlaing was unable to demonstrate any capabilities over the past three year, causing the country [to fall] into historic shame and recession. He is incompetent in every sector, including politics and economics … He should resign from his position [to show] accountably,” he explained. The recent surrender of almost 2,400 soldiers, including six brigadier generals and more than 200 army officers, may have been the tipping point. It handed all of Kokang Self-Administered Zone to an alliance of ethnic armies and other resistance groups, shocking regime supporters so much that they have publicly and strongly criticized someone who appears unable to stop blaming others for his own shortcomings and dismal judgement. The military has lost control of about 30 towns, several hundred bases and outposts – including command centers – to resistance forces across the country in less than three months. Other regime cheerleaders have echoed the call for Min Aung Hlaing to resign since Maung Maung broadcast it on Saturday. Many cite the debacle in Laukkai, the capital of Kokang, where besides losing its biggest command center to date, thousands of weapons, ammunition and armed vehicles were handed over to the resistance. Junta troops did not even try to fight back. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/analysis/myanmars-dictator-is-facing-calls-to-resign-from-some-of-his-most-ardent-supporters.html
