2LT International News

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar – Last last week in Naypyitaw, numerous affluent individuals from Myanmar assembled to contribute over 16 billion kyats (US$7.5 million) in cash to junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to erect an immense Buddha statue.

State media reports that the donations were presented during a ceremony in Naypyitaw’s Dekkhinathiri Township, where construction of the 17-meter-tall statue had commenced before the military seized power in February 2021.

Supported by over 100 prominent businesspeople, the initiative aimed to bolster Min Aung Hlaing’s standing as the protector of Myanmar’s dominant religion.

The most substantial contributors, each donating between 500 million and 2 billion kyats ($235,000-940,000), included numerous individuals who owe their wealth to their close associations with the military.

Among them were prominent tycoons in Myanmar, such as Khin Maung Aye, the chair of CB Bank; Zaw Zaw, CEO of Max Myanmar Group; Tun Myint Naing, also known as Steven Law and the chair of Asia World; Thein Win Zaw, founder of Shwe Byain Phyu; Wanna Khine, director of Eden Group; and Nay Aung, the owner of United Amara Bank. U Maung Kyay, a major donor who currently owns the Wai Mar company, co-founded by the late drug lord Lo Hsing Han, also contributed, and Myanmar Navy commander Admiral Moe Aung, brother of Nay Aung, joined forces with their late military hardliner father, Aung Thaung, for a joint donation.

Others who contributed between 100 million and 500 million kyats ($47,000-236,000) included Zaw Win Shein, the owner of A Bank; Aung Zaw Naing, CEO of Shwe Taung construction company; Dr. Win Myint, a businessman who previously served as commerce minister in the quasi-civilian administration of former general and ex-president Thein Sein; and Kyaw Win, the owner of Shwe Than Lwin construction group and Skynet TV.

State-owned newspapers disclosed the names of 40 business people who participated in the donation ceremony, with plans to publish the names of additional contributors in the upcoming days.

Notably, none of the donors involved in Thursday’s ceremony have faced sanctions imposed by the Myanmar regime, which has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians since seizing power over two years ago.

Referred to as the Maya Wizaya Buddha, the ongoing construction of this colossal statue is one of several similar projects undertaken by Min Aung Hlaing since assuming the role of commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s armed forces in 2011.

In 2019, he was bestowed with the prestigious title of Agga Maha Mangala Dhammajoti Daja, signifying “great and noble protector of the Dhamma,” by senior Buddhist monks in Myanmar.

The construction of the gigantic Buddha statue in Naypyitaw commenced later that same year.