Myanmar’s new generation of corrupt officers

The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s armed forces, battered by years of war since the 2021 coup, are producing a new elite of officers who thrive on corruption while ordinary soldiers and their families suffer.

Rank‑and‑file troops, often drawn from poor backgrounds or conscripted youth, face relentless battles, mounting casualties and little support. Families of those missing in action are routinely denied salaries and entitlements, leaving them to struggle in silence. Yet at the top, protégés of coup leader and now president Min Aung Hlaing are living lavishly.

One striking example is Lieutenant‑Colonel Hlaing Min Htun, who rose rapidly through patronage rather than merit. Elevated directly to senior rank, he was rewarded with a post at the President’s Office, where he reportedly demands bribes from ministries and businesses.

His wife now flaunts luxury handbags and cars, while the couple run a boutique in Naypyitaw and travel abroad for shopping trips.

In Yangon, Lieutenant‑Colonel Zaw Htet Aung is accused of running protection rackets across the city’s nightlife under the patronage of Major‑General Thant Zaw. Karaoke bars, massage parlours and drug‑linked venues are targeted, with payments extracted under threat of raids. His network allegedly seizes homes and intimidates entrepreneurs, funnelling vast sums back to senior patrons.

These cases illustrate a system of patronage where loyalty to powerful commanders is rewarded with lucrative posts, enabling protégés to exploit their positions while ordinary soldiers are neglected. Former colleagues describe Hlaing Min Htun as a “blood‑soaked elite” who ignored pleas from comrades for supplies and reinforcements.

The corruption is systemic: senior officers elevate loyal juniors, who in turn siphon profits upwards. This cycle reproduces itself across generations, ensuring the military remains a breeding ground for profiteering rather than reform.

For Myanmar’s armed forces, the result is stark. As impoverished recruits endure hardship and families of the fallen are abandoned, a new generation of officers consolidates power through intimidation, extortion and fear. Far from delivering democratic change, the institution is entrenching corruption at its core.

-2026-07-06