Myanmar’s head of military junta travels to ally Russia for talks

Bangkok, March 3: The head of Myanmar’s military government travelled to Russia on Monday on an official visit to a major ally of the Southeast Asian nation that has been shunned by much of the West for overthrowing a democratically elected government and subsequent brutal repression.
Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who departed from the military airport in the capital, Naypyitaw, will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The general is accompanied by fellow members of the ruling military council and Cabinet, as well as military officials, state television MRTV reported.
The report said Min Aung Hlaing will also meet with other top Russian officials and discuss bilateral ties, economic affairs and security with the aim to strengthen strategic cooperation.
Russia, along with China, is a major supporter and arms supplier of Myanmar’s military government. Russian-made fighter jets are used in attacks on territory under the control of ethnic minority groups, many of which are allies with pro-democracy resistance forces.
Russia defends Myanmar’s military government in international forums, and the ruling generals generally support Moscow’s foreign policy agenda.
Western nations have ostracized Myanmar’s ruling generals and maintain economic and political sanctions against them because of their takeover and violent repression of opposition, which has led to the deaths of thousands of civilians and given rise to an armed conflict widely seen as a civil war. (AP)