Rina fled Myanmar after the 2021 coup, escaping the growing violence that followed the military crackdown on pro-democracy protests. The 21-year-old, once part of a promising generation, now works in a cafe in Bangkok, earning a modest income. She and millions of her peers have been driven out of a homeland now in economic and social chaos, where a civil war has claimed at least 100,000 lives over the past five years. Despite the challenges, Rina remains certain about who is responsible for the destruction: the junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing.
Min Aung Hlaing, the de facto ruler of Myanmar, has taken a diplomatic route to restore his country's standing in the region. This year, he made an official visit to Thailand, where he was warmly received by Thai officials and business leaders. During the trip, he promoted his conflict-ravaged nation as a potential hub for regional infrastructure and investment. Earlier in the year, he traveled to China and India, seeking to ease the diplomatic isolation imposed after the military takeover.
In Bangkok, the reception for Min Aung Hlaing included honor guards, a red carpet, and a gala dinner. The hospitality sharply contrasts with the devastation back home, where years of war have left the economy in ruins and families displaced. Rina, who shared her story using a nickname to avoid retribution, said her generation can only return when the military is defeated and the junta is gone. 'The day he is gone,' she said, 'we will return to rebuild what was lost.'
After consolidating power in areas under his control, Min Aung Hlaing recently assumed the role of Myanmar’s civilian president, a shift that masks ongoing conflict. His diplomatic tours suggest a calculated effort to attract foreign investment while his forces continue to battle insurgents in parts of the country. Still, for many like Rina, the vision of a thriving, peaceful Myanmar feels distant—perhaps unattainable—under the current regime.
