Mya Tun Oo

Myanmar general, Deputy Prime Minister, and Defence Minister

မြထွန်းဦး
Mya Tun Oo in 2020
Minister for DefenceIn office
1 February 2021 – 3 August 2023[1]PresidentMyint Swe (acting)Prime MinisterMin Aung HlaingDeputyAung Lin OoPreceded bySein WinSucceeded byTin Aung SanDeputy Prime Minister of Myanmar
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 February 2023
Serving with Soe Win, Tin Aung San, Win Shein, and Than Swe
PresidentMyint Swe (acting)Prime MinisterMin Aung HlaingMember of the State Administration Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
2 February 2021 Personal detailsBorn5 May 1961 (1961-05-05) (age 63)
Seikgyi Village, Yangon, Myanmar (formerly Burma)CitizenshipBurmeseSpouseThet Thet AungAlma materDefence Services AcademyCabinetMin Aung Hlaing's military cabinetMilitary serviceAllegianceMyanmar TatmadawBranch/service Myanmar ArmyYears of service1980–presentRank GeneralBattles/wars

Mya Tun Oo (Burmese: မြထွန်းဦး; pronounced [mja̰ tʰʊ́ɴ ʔú]; born 5 May 1961)[2] is a Burmese army general and politician who currently serves as the Deputy Prime Minister of Myanmar and Minister of Defence of Myanmar since February 2023, prior to which he held the position of Minister of Defence and is a member of the State Administration Council (SAC) since February 2021.[3][4][5][6] Mya Tun Oo is also a member of the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) in his capacity as the Minister of Defence.[7][8][9][10][11]

Early life and education

Mya Tun Oo was born on 5 May 1961 in Seikgyi Village, Yangon, Myanmar (formerly Burma).[12][13][14][15] He graduated from the Defence Services Academy's 25th intake in 1984.[12][16][17][18]

Military career

Mya Tun Oo's rapid rise through the armed forces was noted by political observers, known for his professional record in both field combat and staff roles.[19][20][21][22] By 2010, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, serving as the rector of the Defence Services Academy, his alma mater.[12][23][24][25] From 2011 to 2012, he served as the commander of the Eastern Central Command, which encompasses central Shan State.[16][26][27][28][29] In 2012, he was promoted to the rank of major general, serving as the army's chief of staff, chief of military security affairs, and chief of the Bureau of Special Operations 6.[12][30][31][32] From 2015 to 2017, he served as the head of Bureau of Operations - 5, which includes the Naypyidaw and Western Commands.[16][33][34][35] On 26 August 2016, he was promoted to the rank of general, serving as the chief of general staff for the army, navy, and air force.[12][36][37] After years of speculation, he was appointed by the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services as the Minister for Defence on 1 February 2021.[38][39][40][41] On the following day (2 February 2021), he was appointed a member of the State Administration Council by the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.[3][42][43][44][45]

Sanctions

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on Mya Tun Oo since 11 February 2021, pursuant to Executive Order 14014, in response to the Burmese military's coup against the democratically elected civilian government of Burma.[46][47][48][49] The US sanctions include a freezing of any assets in the US and a ban on transactions with US individuals.[50][51][52][53]

The Government of Canada has imposed sanctions on him since 18 February 2021, pursuant to Special Economic Measures Act and Special Economic Measures (Burma) Regulations, in response to the gravity of the human rights and humanitarian situation in Myanmar (formerly Burma).[54][55][56][57] Canadian sanctions include freezing potential assets in Canada and a ban on transactions with Canadian individuals.[58][59][60][61]

HM Treasury and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of United Kingdom have also imposed sanctions on him since 18 February 2021, for his responsibility for serious human rights violations in Burma.[62][63][64] The UK sanctions include freezing potential assets held in the UK and a ban on traveling or transiting to the UK.[65][66][67]

Furthermore, the Council of the European Union has imposed sanctions on him since 22 March 2021, pursuant to Council Regulation (EU) 2021/479 and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/480 which amended Council Regulation (EU) No 401/2013, for his responsibility for the military coup and the subsequent military and police repression against peaceful demonstrators.[68][69] The EU sanctions include freezing of assets under member countries of the EU and ban on traveling or transiting to the countries.[70][71][72]

Personal life

Mya Tun Oo is married to Thet Thet Aung.[73][74]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Myanmar Junta Leader Reshuffles Cabinet Days After Extending Emergency Rule". The Irrawaddy. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Brigadier General Mya Tun Oo, commander of the Defense Services Academy, and Brigadier General Ko Ko Naing, commander of the Defense Services Medical Academy, are said to have been appointed as the commanders of newly formed RMCs". The Irrawaddy. 29 December 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Order No (9/2021), Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Republic of the Union of Myanmar" (PDF). The Global New Light of Myanmar. 3 February 2021. p. 3. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Order No (6/2021), Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Republic of the Union of Myanmar" (PDF). Global New Light of Myanmar. 2 February 2021. p. 5. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Tatmadaw names new govt officials". The Myanmar Times. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Myanmar says Kokang rebels on the run despite allies' help". TODAYonline. 21 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Myanmar security forces took part in killing 10 Rohingya: army". The Peninsula. 10 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Myanmar military admits soldiers killed villagers". Gulf Times. 20 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Burma Army Reports More Than 100 Casualties in Mong Ko Clashes". The Irrawaddy. 28 February 2017.
  10. ^ "677 CSOs call on ASEAN to bar Myanmar from ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting". Burma News International. 16 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Myanmar military admits soldiers killed 5 people, says will prosecute". The Himalayan Times. 20 July 2016.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Lt-Gen Mya Tun Oo Appointed Burmese Military's Chief of General Staff". The Irrawaddy. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by Members of the State Administration Council General Mya Tun Oo, General Maung Maung Kyaw, Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, U Thein Nyunt, U Khin Maung Swe, Joint-Secretary of the Council Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, Union Ministers U Tin Htut Oo, U Hla Moe, U Aung Than Oo, Dr Charlie Than, U Khin Yi, Dr Thet Khaing Win and U Min Thein Zan, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Hla Soe, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Commander of the Yangon Command, Mayor and officials, inspected Aung San Stadium in Mingala Taungnyunt Township, and Kyaikkasan Sports Grounds in Tamway Township yesterday". Ministry of Defence (Myanmar). 8 October 2021.
  14. ^ Htet Naing Zaw (1 March 2017). "Military Chief of Staff: Army Not Open to Talks With AA, MNDAA or TNLA". The Irrawaddy.
  15. ^ "Myanmar Junta 'Sweetens Deal' For China in US$ 8 Billion SEZ And Port in Rakhine State". The Irrawaddy. 27 December 2023.
  16. ^ a b c "Min Aung Hlaing and His Generals: Some Biographical Notes". FULCRUM. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Lieutenant General Mya Htun Oo, chief of military affairs security, made the claim on Saturday as a broader spectrum of ethnic rebel groups issued a statement of moral support for the Kokang". Bangkok Post. 21 February 2015.
  18. ^ Yan Pai (9 September 2014). "Burmese Military Reshuffle Sees New Security Chief Appointed". The Irrawaddy.
  19. ^ "Who will be Myanmar's Commander-in-Chief?". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Myanmar's army chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has reshuffled top posts in the army, Reuters reported on 26 August. The reshuffle saw the promotion of the intelligence chief and a number of other officers. Military intelligence chief Lieutenant General Mya Tun Oo was promoted to the joint chief of staff of the army, navy, and air force, the de-facto third most senior position and one seen as a stepping stone to becoming army chief". Burma News International. 29 August 2016.
  21. ^ "Myanmar army denies ethnic cleansing of Rohingya in Rakhine state". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 March 2017.
  22. ^ "Cambodia rejects calls to disinvite Myanmar junta rep". Khmer Times. 22 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Myanmar's Ties With Russia Deepening Since Coup: Military". The Irrawaddy. 26 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Cambodia Rejects Calls to Bar Myanmar Junta Minister From ASEAN Meeting". The Irrawaddy. 20 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Myanmar invited to Asian military meeting co-chaired by US". Al Jazeera News. 31 January 2023.
  26. ^ "Myanmar Junta Marks UN's Call for Arms Trade Halt With Shopping Trip". The Irrawaddy. 21 June 2021.
  27. ^ "Lieutenant General Mya Tun Oo Appointed Burmese Military's Chief of General Staff". The Irrawaddy. 29 August 2016.
  28. ^ "Myanmar minister joins Southeast Asian defense meeting". The Indian Express. 22 June 2022.
  29. ^ "SAC Member DPM Union Defence Minister General Mya Tun Oo attends Chin National Day ceremony". Ministry of Defence (Myanmar). 22 February 2023.
  30. ^ "Myanmar Junta Sacked Generals Who Served as Minsters During NLD Govt". The Irrawaddy. 26 November 2021.
  31. ^ Ben Sokhean (23 June 2022). "Thorny issue: Myanmar's transition to normalcy key topic at ADMM". Khmer Times.
  32. ^ "Cambodian Defence Minister, Myanmar Defence Minister holds bilateral talks". Khmer Times. 22 June 2022.
  33. ^ Ben Sokhean (22 November 2022). "Junta snubbed: Cambodia bars SAC Defence Minister from Asean meets". Khmer Times.
  34. ^ Aung Thet Wine (23 July 2014). "Tipped as Next Burma Army Chief, Mya Tun Oo Gets Promotion". The Irrawaddy.
  35. ^ "General Mya Tun Oo, Member of the State Administration Council (SAC) and Deputy Prime Minister, who also serves as the Union Minister for Transport and Communications, conducted a comprehensive inspection of the newly established locomotive assembly and manufacturing factory in Nay Pyi Taw". Ministry of Defence (Myanmar). 10 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Myanmar junta representative attends ASEAN defense meeting". Radio Free Asia. 22 June 2022.
  37. ^ "SAC reshuffles its cabinet members". Eleven Media Group. 4 August 2023.
  38. ^ "Order No (6/2021), Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Republic of the Union of Myanmar" (PDF). The Global New Light of Myanmar. 2 February 2021. p. 5. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  39. ^ "Tipped as Next Myanmar Army Chief, Mya Tun Oo Gets Promotion". The Irrawaddy. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  40. ^ "Tatmadaw names new govt officials". The Myanmar Times. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  41. ^ "Union Minister General Mya Tun Oo attends 8th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus". Ministry of Defence (Myanmar). 17 June 2021.
  42. ^ "The meeting of the Intellectual Property (IP) Central Committee 1/2023 was held at the conference room of the Ministry of Commerce, Nay Pyi Taw in the morning on June 21, 2023 and the Chairman of the Intellectual Property Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Ministry of Defence, General Mya Tun Oo delivered an opening speech". Ministry of Commerce. 21 June 2023.
  43. ^ "The Myanmar Cyber Security Challenge 2023 (open Level) competition was held at the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Nay Pyi Taw from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm yesterday, graced by Union Transport & Communications Minister General Mya Tun Oo and dignitaries". Ministry of Defence (Myanmar). 6 August 2023.
  44. ^ Sar Socheath (20 June 2022). "Junta Defence Minister to represent Myanmar at ADMM". Khmer Times.
  45. ^ "Myanmar delegation visits Russia to attend Eastern Economic Forum". Eleven Media Group. 9 September 2023.
  46. ^ "Myanmar Junta Leader Reshuffles Cabinet Days After Extending Emergency Rule". The Irrawaddy. 4 August 2023.
  47. ^ "Snubbed Myanmar Junta Leader Must Watch China's BRI Summit From Home". The Irrawaddy. 17 October 2023.
  48. ^ "Joint Secretary Lieutenant General Ye Win Oo, Council members General Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, Lieutenant General Nyo Saw, Porel Aung Thein, Mahn Nyein Maung, Dr Hmu Thang, Dr Ba Shwe and U Yan Kyaw, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Zwe Win Myint, Union ministers U Ko Ko Hlaing, Admiral Moe Aung and Dr Nyunt Pe presented first, second and third prizes in addition to honorary awards to relevant resource persons in respective subjects". Ministry of Defence (Myanmar). 28 January 2024.
  49. ^ "Myanmar Junta Minister Discusses Train Lines to China". The Irrawaddy. 29 September 2023.
  50. ^ "United States Targets Leaders of Burma's Military Coup Under New Executive Order". The U.S. Department of the Treasury. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  51. ^ "State Administration Council Member Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Transport and Communications, General Mya Tun Oo, participated in the Naga Traditional New Year festival for 2024 in Leshi of Naga Self-Administered Zone yesterday". Ministry of Defence (Myanmar). 17 January 2024.
  52. ^ "Myanmar Coup Leader Fires Two Members of Junta's Highest Body for Corruption". The Irrawaddy. 26 September 2023.
  53. ^ "Drone attack near proposed airport construction site in Mon State". Eleven Media Group. 8 April 2024.
  54. ^ "Financial Sanctions Notice Burma 18 February 2021". gov.je. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  55. ^ "At the invitation of the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China, a delegation led by State Administration Council Member Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Transport and Communications General Mya Tun Oo departed from Yangon yesterday morning to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held in Beijing on 17 and 18 October". Ministry of Defence (Myanmar). 17 October 2023.
  56. ^ "Military reshuffling aims to keep Myanmar's ruling junta in place for the long term". Radio Free Asia. 9 August 2023.
  57. ^ "Myanmar Junta Strips General of Key Posts Amid Corruption Probe". The Irrawaddy. 20 September 2023.
  58. ^ "Special Economic Measures Act (S.C. 1992, c. 17)". Justice Laws Website. 4 June 1992. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  59. ^ "Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Burma) Regulations: SOR/2021-18". The Government of Canada. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  60. ^ "Over 1M global travelers visited Myanmar from Jan to Oct". The Nation. 9 December 2023.
  61. ^ "Union Minister General Mya Tun Oo and Party Inspect Rehabilitation Activities in MOCHA Strom-hit Ponnagyun, Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Sittwe, Myebon and Pauktaw Townships". Ministry of Defence (Myanmar). 13 July 2023.
  62. ^ "PDF Drones Target Southeastern Regional Military Command During visit of Junta's Deputy Chief". Burma News International. 9 April 2024.
  63. ^ "Myanmar delegation led by State Administration Council Member Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Transport and Communications General Mya Tun Oo arrived back in Myanmar on Thursday after attending the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing of the People's Republic of China on 17 and 18 October". Ministry of Defence (Myanmar). 21 October 2023.
  64. ^ Khine Lin Kyaw (20 September 2023). "Myanmar Leader's Aide Removed from Key Role That Controls Forex". Bloomberg News.
  65. ^ Raab, Dominic (18 February 2021). "UK sanctions Myanmar military generals for serious human rights violations:The Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced sanctions against members of the Myanmar military for serious human rights violations following the military coup". Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  66. ^ "Myanmar junta sacks general for alleged bribery and corruption". Radio Free Asia. 21 September 2023.
  67. ^ "Burmese Opposition Offensive Switches Strategy – Analysis". Eurasia Review. 19 April 2024.
  68. ^ "Beijing Bound: Myanmar Transport Minister Joins Race to China". The Irrawaddy. 25 September 2023.
  69. ^ "SAC appoints General Mya Tun Oo as the Chairman of the Foreign Exchange Supervisory Committee". Eleven Media Group. 21 September 2023.
  70. ^ "Myanmar/Burma: EU sanctions 11 people over the recent military coup and ensuing repression". The Council of the European Union. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  71. ^ "Official Journal of the European Union". 22 March 2021. pp. 15–24. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  72. ^ "Myanmar junta signs addendum for deep seaport project with China amidst Rakhine conflicts". Narinjara News. 28 December 2023.
  73. ^ "တပ်မတော်ကာကွယ်ရေးဦးစီးချုပ် ဗိုလ်ချုပ်မှူးကြီး မင်းအောင်လှိုင် ဦးဆောင်သည့် မြန်မာ့တပ်မတော် ချစ်ကြည်ရေးကိုယ်စားလှယ်အဖွဲ့ လာအိုပြည်သူ့ဒီမိုကရက်တစ် သမ္မတနိုင်ငံမှပြန်လည်ရောက်ရှိ". Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services (in Burmese). Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  74. ^ "မြန်မာ့တပ်မတော် အားကစားအဖွဲ့နှင့် လာအိုပြည်သူ့တပ်မတော် အားကစားအဖွဲ့ ချစ်ကြည်ရေး ဘောလုံးပြိုင်ပွဲနှင့် ပိုက်ကျော်ခြင်းပြိုင်ပွဲများအသီးသီး ယှဉ်ပြိုင်ကစား". Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2021.