BANGKOK: In strife-ridden Myanmar, a military tribunal has recently issued severe sentences to two high-ranking generals, finding them guilty of various charges including high treason, accepting bribes, illegal possession of foreign currency, and violating military discipline. According to reports from state-run media, both officers have been sentenced to life imprisonment, marking a significant escalation in punishments against senior members of the military’s administrative bodies.
These sentences represent the most stringent penalties imposed thus far on senior military figures since the army seized control from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi over 2 1/2 years ago. Since the coup, Myanmar has been engulfed in a state of turmoil, witnessing widespread armed resistance against military rule.
Among the convicted officers is Lt. Gen. Moe Myint Tun, who previously held the position of army chief of staff and was a member of the military’s ruling State Administration Council. He also chaired three major economic supervisory bodies. Moe Myint Tun’s sentence entails “transportation” for a 20-year term, effectively equating to a life sentence. It’s important to note that “transportation” is an antiquated legal term denoting banishment to a remote location, typically a penal colony.
Accompanying him in this conviction is Yan Naung Soe, a brigadier general who previously served as a joint secretary of one of the committees chaired by Moe Myint Tun. He, too, received a life sentence, mirroring the severity of the judgment.
Both individuals were referred to as former generals in the official report, indicating their prior dismissal from the army.
The detention and subsequent investigation of these officers, which culminated in their convictions, were set in motion last month in the capital city of Naypyitaw. Their arrests followed similar actions against numerous private business operators suspected of bribing Moe Myint Tun and his subordinates. Moe Myint Tun was relieved of his duties in the State Administration Council during a reshuffle that transpired in late September.
During a meeting shortly after this reshuffle, Myanmar’s military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, reportedly emphasized the importance of trustworthiness in council appointees. He made it clear that those who abuse their rank would face suspension and subsequent punishment, underscoring the gravity of maintaining discipline and integrity within the military ranks.
