Chief of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team

Chief of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team of Myanmar Army
တပ်မတော်သတင်းမှန်ပြန်ကြားရေးအဖွဲ့ ဦးစီးချုပ်
Insignia of the Chief of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team
Incumbent
Major General Zaw Min Tun
since 7 February 2021
Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
TypeSpokesperson
StatusVacant
Member ofTatmadaw
Reports toCommander-in-Chief of Defence Services
SeatNaypyidaw, Myanmar
AppointerCommander-in-Chief of Defence Services
Formation2018
First holderMajor General Soe Naing Oo
Final holderMajor General Zaw Min Tun
Abolished2021
Websitehttps://www.moi.gov.mm/

The Chief of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team (Burmese: တပ်မတော်သတင်းမှန်ပြန်ကြားရေးအဖွဲ့ ဦးစီးချုပ်) was the official spokesperson and head of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team, the communications arm of the Tatmadaw, Myanmar's armed forces.[1][2][3][4] The role served as the military's key mouthpiece during press briefings, media statements, and crisis communications, especially after the 2021 military coup.[5][6][7][8][9]

Role and responsibilities

The Chief of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team led the coordination of public communications, press releases, and official military narratives on national security, political events, and international criticism.[10][11][12] [13] The team operated under the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and acted as the central channel for the military's media outreach.[14][15][16]

Notable officeholders

The only known and most prominent holder of the position was Major General Zaw Min Tun, who concurrently served as Deputy Minister of Information and spokesperson for the State Administration Council following the 2021 coup.[17][18] The academy is recognized for training military officers who go on to hold key roles in the Myanmar Armed Forces.[19][20][21][22][23][24]

Recent activities

Under Zaw Min Tun’s leadership, the team held frequent press conferences defending the military's operations, especially during international scrutiny related to the Rohingya crisis and later, the 2021 coup.[25][26][27] On 21 February 2021, Facebook removed the team's page citing repeated policy violations.[28][29]

Status

Since 2021, the position has remained vacant.[30][31] Its responsibilities appear to have been absorbed into broader state communication efforts under the State Administration Council.[32][33][34]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Union Ministers and Deputy Ministers". www.moi.gov.mm.
  2. ^ "This is not a coup", said Major General Zaw Min Tun from a gilded hall in Myanmar's purpose-built capital Naypyidaw, the city where his comrades recently ousted an elected government, detained the country's leadership, and installed a military junta". The ASEAN Post. 9 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Facebook takes down main page of Myanmar military". Reuters. 21 February 2021.
  4. ^ Domino, Jenny (11 May 2021). "Beyond the Coup in Myanmar: The Other De-Platforming We Should Have Been Talking About". Just Security. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Myanmar army denies detained Australian academic released". The Times Of India. 7 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Spokesman Zaw Min Tun said authorities were making progress in reducing Coronavirus infections and aimed to inoculate half of the country's population by the end of this year". The Times Of India. 27 August 2021.
  7. ^ Sebastian, Strangio (25 January 2023). "Myanmar Military Spokesperson Expresses Uncertainty Over Junta Polls". The Diplomat.
  8. ^ "Major General Zaw Min Tun told foreign media on Tuesday that Aung San Suu Kyi and the president of her toppled government, Win Myint, were among the elderly and infirm prisoners transferred from prison". Al Jazeera English. 17 April 2024.
  9. ^ "The army officer from Anyar – Zaw Min Tun, who graduated with the 37th intake of the Defense Services Academy, was a friend of U Zaw Htay, who served as spokesperson for Myanmar's ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government. U Zaw Htay died last month". The Irrawaddy. 14 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Detained Myanmar president, state counsellor to be treated in line with law: military". Xinhua. 16 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Exclusive Interview with Major General Zaw Min Tun, Spokeperson of SAC". NP News. 14 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Myanmar military government spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun told pro-army media a day after Laukkaing's fall that its local commanders relinquished control of the city after considering many factors including the safety of family members and of soldiers stationed there". The Seattle Times. 24 January 2024.
  13. ^ "ICC Legal Tools". www.legal-tools.org. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  14. ^ "Information released by the Tatmadaw True News Information Team on the findings of the Investigation Team in connection with the performances of the security troops during the terrorist attacks in Maungtaw region , Rakhine State (Myanamr Version)". www.me-islamabad.org. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  15. ^ Ingyin Naing (19 February 2024). "Myanmar Army Enforces Conscription Law Amid Backlash, Exodus". VOA News.
  16. ^ "Myanmar Military Asks Govt to Punish Minister for Police Remark". The Irrawaddy. 4 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun from the Myanmar military's information team said the soldiers' sentences were reduced after their family members and Buddhist monks submitted petitions to Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing". Radio Free Asia. 30 May 2019.
  18. ^ "Explainer: Crisis in Myanmar after army alleges election fraud". Reuters. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Myanmar army flexes muscles as Suu Kyi's government begins second term". WION. Reuters. 29 January 2021 – via WION.
  20. ^ "Myanmar confirms that a key northeastern city near China has been seized by an armed ethnic alliance". The Economic Times.
  21. ^ "Myanmar military court delays verdict in Suu Kyi corruption trial". The Times Of India. 25 April 2022.
  22. ^ "Tatmadaw True News Information Team Clarifies Accusations by some Media destroying the Nation regarding Mine Blasts in Insein Central Jail". infosheet.org. 21 October 2022.
  23. ^ "Facebook removes main page of Myanmar military for 'incitement of violence'". ABC News. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  24. ^ "Tatmadaw True News Information Team holds press conference through video conferencing | Myawady Webportal". www.myawady.net.mm. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  25. ^ "Myanmar military meets rebel groups with China's help - army spokesperson". Reuters. 11 December 2023.
  26. ^ "Naypyidaw: About 88 per cent of schools across Myanmar have reopened since June 1, spokesperson of the military-run State Administration Council (SAC) Zaw Min Tun said". The Times Of India. 13 June 2021.
  27. ^ "Tatmadaw True News Information Team holds press briefing". MDN - Myanmar DigitalNews. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  28. ^ "Tatmadaw True News Information Team meets media at press conference | Myawady Webportal". www.myawady.net.mm. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  29. ^ "Facebook takes down main page of Myanmar military". Reuters. 21 February 2021.
  30. ^ "Government spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun made the announcement at a news conference in the capital Naypyitaw, where he also said the authorities are trying to vaccinate 50% of the country's population this year". The Times Of India. 27 August 2021.
  31. ^ "Analyzing Information Strategies Employed by the Myanmar Army known as 'the Tatmadaw'". The Irrawaddy. 14 June 2022.
  32. ^ "Beyond the Coup in Myanmar: The Other De-Platforming We Should Have Been Talking About". UP College of Law. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  33. ^ "Zaw Min Tun". OpenSanctions.org. 10 January 1949. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  34. ^ Zaw, Htet Naing (9 June 2020). "Myanmar's Military Returns to Facebook to Provide 'Accurate' News". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
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