Fri Apr 04 17:16:33 UTC 2025: ## Myanmar Junta Leader’s Bangkok Visit Sparks Protests Amid Earthquake Aftermath

**Bangkok, Thailand** – The presence of Myanmar’s junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, at a regional summit in Bangkok on Friday, April 4th, 2025, has ignited widespread protests. Hlaing’s visit comes just a week after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, leaving over 3,145 dead, thousands injured, and millions affected.

Demonstrators in Bangkok, holding banners calling Hlaing a “murderer,” condemned his attendance at the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit. Their anger stems from the junta’s human rights abuses and perceived lack of assistance to earthquake survivors. While numerous countries have provided aid, reports indicate minimal on-the-ground support from Myanmar’s military in severely affected areas like Sagaing, where an estimated 80% of buildings were damaged. Survivors are facing desperate conditions, lacking shelter, food, and essential supplies.

Hlaing’s participation in the summit, held at a luxury Bangkok hotel, drew sharp criticism. The decision to invite him was widely condemned, with protesters hanging a banner reading, “We do not welcome murderer Min Aung Hlaing.” Even as the crisis unfolded in Myanmar, Hlaing attended a gala dinner with other BIMSTEC leaders.

The junta leader, who seized power in a 2021 coup, faces multiple global sanctions and an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity. Despite this, he received red-carpet treatment from the Thai government. While the BIMSTEC leaders issued a statement expressing condolences, Myanmar’s shadow government, the National Unity Government (NUG), strongly condemned Hlaing’s presence, viewing it as a legitimization of the illegal regime. Activist groups echoed these sentiments, criticizing Thailand and BIMSTEC for hosting him. The visit marked Hlaing’s first foreign trip outside of China, Russia, and Belarus since the coup. He used the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

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