ASEAN MPs Condemn Myanmar Junta’s Move to Install Min Aung Hlaing as President

JAKARTA, 31 March 2026—ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) condemns the Myanmar junta’s well-orchestrated maneuver to place Min Aung Hlaing on a clear path to the presidency, following his resignation as commander-in-chief and immediate installation as vice president within a junta-controlled parliamentary vote.

Since the 2021 coup, the junta has overseen mass killings, arbitrary detention, airstrikes on civilian communities, and the systematic persecution of ethnic and religious minorities, including the genocide of the Rohingya. His ascension to the presidency would formalize the same violent system that has already caused immense suffering, deepened social fractures, and undermined democracy and human rights.

Gen. Ye Win Oo has been installed as the new commander-in-chief, a loyal ally of Min Aung Hlaing who ran interrogation centers where thousands of political prisoners were tortured. With Ye Win Oo in command, the military remains tightly aligned with Min Aung Hlaing, securing his dominance over both the presidency and the armed forces and cementing the continuation of repression and impunity.

The recent elections and their orchestrated results—held amid continued airstrikes, bombings, and displacement—are fundamentally illegitimate. They do not reflect the will of the Myanmar people and are a further attempt by the junta to consolidate power while evading accountability.

APHR reiterates its unwavering support for pro-democracy groups, ethnic organizations, and people’s movements who continue to resist military rule at the frontlines, defending their communities, advancing human rights, and striving toward a federal democratic transition in Myanmar.

APHR calls on ASEAN, the United Nations, and the international community—including the Philippines in its capacity as ASEAN chair—to take urgent and decisive action by condemning the junta’s consolidation of power, upholding international human rights and humanitarian law, and supporting Myanmar’s democratic forces.

It is critical to avoid a return to “business as usual,” as the junta has repeatedly used superficial civilian transitions to project an image of reform while continuing repression, prompting premature re-engagement by regional and international actors.

APHR emphasizes that the response to the Myanmar crisis must be guided by the will of the Myanmar people, respect for human rights, and the pursuit of democracy .Any recognition of Min Aung Hlaing’s presidency would legitimize atrocities and impunity that undermine the rights of peoples across Myanmar. Democracy, human rights, and justice demand international solidarity and coordinated action to support the people’s struggle against dictatorship.

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For inquiries:
Elsa Jade, Myanmar & Crisis Response Program Coordinator [[email protected]]
Neal Roxas, Media and Communications Officer [[email protected]]