Feuding for Likes: Military Supporters Clash Amid National Upheaval

If they want lots of likes, these days military supporters are just busy feuding with one another. On one side, there’s Han Nyin Oo, Kyaw Swar, and Thazin Oo; on the other, Ma Pu Tu. Then there’s Ko Zaw Bhun Hine and Ko Aung Min, along with Ko Kyaw Myo Min and A Ba Bhulut.…

If they want lots of likes, these days military supporters are just busy feuding with one another. On one side, there’s Han Nyin Oo, Kyaw Swar, and Thazin Oo; on the other, Ma Pu Tu. Then there’s Ko Zaw Bhun Hine and Ko Aung Min, along with Ko Kyaw Myo Min and A Ba Bhulut. Most of them, however, simply remain stubbornly opposed. It was only at Ko Zaw Bhun Hine’s event that Ko Aung Min’s words faltered and he visibly trembled with fear.

Unable to confront Ko Zaw Bhun Hine directly, Ko Aung Min instead went after the unrelated U Lei Ngarr Min Hswe. But U Lei Ngarr Min Hswe did not respond at all—even though he repeatedly vowed that he wouldn’t resort to physical violence, his hands trembled so uncontrollably that he had to hide them from view. Yet he couldn’t avoid it, and he ended up being caught on video. It became a national scandal; contrary to popular belief, he wasn’t even armed in bed. He did it simply to provoke Ko Zaw Bhun Hine into a direct confrontation. In reality, it was merely a heart-calming tonic he drank.

It’s been over three years since the takeover, and the military now controls more than 50 cities. The prices of the dollar, gold, and even cooking oil have surged accordingly. Cooking oil, once sold at 2 kyats per unit, is now going for 2.5 kyats per unit. In most regions, power outages have become frequent. To put it mildly, the military’s grand success is now surging full force toward Western Gyaik Island.

Yet, military supporters continue to bicker among themselves—each one gleefully hurling petty insults at the others, even live streaming their antics.