Min Aung Hlaing is attending the ASEAN meeting

Myanmar’s military ruler Min Aung Hlaing is attending the ASEAN meeting.

Myanmar has been disturbed by protests since the military coup. At least 600 civilians have been killed so far in security forces firing on protesters. As a result, the country’s military rulers have faced a lot of criticism in the international arena. In such a situation, Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar’s army and top leader of the junta, is going to attend the ASEAN summit on Southeast Asian countries to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia next week.

In a coup, last February, the Tatmadao or Burmese army took control of Myanmar. Top officials of the elected government, including Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, were detained. Since then, protests have started across the country. Thousands of people have taken to the streets calling for the return of democracy. The army has started a counter operation. So far, about 600 pro-democracy activists have lost their lives in the army firing. In such a situation, several countries, including the United States and India, have called for the return of democracy in the country. As a result, the pressure on Junta is constantly increasing. In such a situation, Myanmar’s army chief and junta leader Min Aung Hlaing is set to attend the ASEAN summit on Southeast Asian nations in Jakarta, Indonesia, next week, according to Thailand. This is Hlaing’s first foreign trip since the military coup. However, the junta government has not yet officially commented on the matter. Myanmar’s ‘crisis’ could be discussed at a 10-nation meeting starting April 24.

It is worth mentioning that Junta recently released 23,000 prisoners on the occasion of the Buddhist New Year. The process of releasing prisoners from several prisons in Myanmar has begun. A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at least 600 detainees were being released from Yangon’s Insein Prison. According to analysts, this process is nothing new. Every year, a number of prisoners are released in Myanmar on the occasion of the Thinggan or Buddhist New Year. But even in the midst of the Tazmul protests in the military regime, there were doubts about the practice. However, according to some experts, those who are being released are mainly limestone. In fact, the junta is making room in prisons for the purpose of capturing democrats.