Fri Apr 04 07:11:00 UTC 2025: ## Sanctioned Myanmar Leader Attends Regional Summit Amidst Earthquake Aftermath and Protests

**Bangkok, Thailand** – Myanmar’s military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, made a rare international appearance at the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit in Bangkok this week. His presence sparked immediate controversy, given his country’s ongoing political crisis and the numerous international sanctions and arrest warrants against him.

Hlaing, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, attended the summit despite being shunned by much of the West for his role in the 2021 coup and subsequent brutal crackdown on dissent. His participation in the BIMSTEC meeting, which includes Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, was defended by Thai officials who cited the organization’s charter requiring the invitation of all member nation leaders.

The visit coincided with Myanmar’s recovery efforts following a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that killed over 3,000 people. Despite the national tragedy, the military continued airstrikes against rebel groups, drawing further international condemnation. A temporary ceasefire has been declared, but sporadic fighting continues.

Hlaing’s presence at the summit was met with protests in Bangkok, where demonstrators branded him a “murderer.” Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG), representing ousted elected officials, strongly condemned his participation, asserting he lacks legitimacy to represent the country. Several activist groups echoed these concerns, arguing that his invitation legitimizes the junta and harms BIMSTEC’s reputation.

During the summit, Hlaing held bilateral meetings with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussing topics ranging from disaster prevention to infrastructure development. Despite the controversies, the summit proceeded, highlighting the complex diplomatic challenges posed by Myanmar’s internal conflict within the broader regional context.

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