Yangon, January (5)
The awarding of the honorary titles by the coup council on the eve of Independence Day is only a consolation for not disintegrating among themselves, the political analysts and the EAOs said.
The Military Council awarded honorary titles and medals to former dictators, incumbent staff, nationalists, and over 500 people from all walks of life on the eve of Independence Day.
In a ceremony held in Nay Pyi Taw, Commander-in-Chief General Min Aung awarded honorary titles to 550 people in total—206 on January 1 and 344 on January 2.
A member of the Central Committee of the ethnic armed organization, the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), Khu De Bu criticized the awarding of such titles by the military council as a way of comforting them so that they would not break up among themselves.
Among those who were awarded the titles were the Vice Chairman of the Military Council, Lt. Col. Soe Win, the Secretary of the Military Council, Lt. Gen. Aung Lin Dwe, and U Ti Khun Myat, who was not arrested during the military coup.
In addition, the military council awarded honorary and religious titles to the nationalist monk U Wirathu, former chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), U Than Htay, and other religious leaders.
Former Prime Minister U Nu, former President U San Yu, former General Saw Maung, and former dictator General Ne Win were also awarded honorary medals, and their family members received the awards on their behalf.
U Than Soe Naing, a political analyst, criticized the awarding of the honorary degree as an effort by the military leader to portray himself as the head of state.
The military regime released 7,012 male and female prisoners from various prisons and detention centers across the country as a day to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Independence Day.
Among those granted amnesty were the former Minister of Religious Affairs of the NLD administration, Thura U Aung KO, author Daw Than Myint Aung, a member of the Yangon Region Municipal Development Committee, and author U Hin Lin Oo.
However, there were few male and female political prisoners released who had been arrested following the military coup.
News-Than Lwin Times
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