Photo Showing Min Aung Hlaing Pointing Gun at Himself Altered

Protests against Myanmar's military government led by General Min Aung Hlaing are still being addressed and shared on social media by Khmer-speaking social media users. Meanwhile, a photo showing General Min Aung Hlaing pointing a gun at himself was posted on social media recently. This photo has been reshared and reacted by Facebook users who are speaking Khmer. However, after running a Google Reverse Image search, it proves that the photo above was altered.

This is about our investigation of this photo.

Social Media Claim

On January 17, 2022, one of the Facebook pages called Angkor. Empire posted a photo showing a Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing holding a pistol gun at himself. The attached photo has received mixed reactions from users and has been widely distributed many times on social media in Cambodia.

The following screenshot was captured from the above Facebook page’s post which translated to English as​ “As a Cambodian citizen, I would like to congratulate the people of Myanmar on the trial of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). But I still regret the criminal acts that always persecuted the people. Tears well up in my eyes, and I am innocent. Let the sacred objects in the world help convict criminals”.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

The above photo may be believed as the real photo as numbers and multiple reactions are being shared on social media. The following screenshot was captured from one of the Facebook pages whereby Facebook users congratulated for what he has done.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

Fact Check

Fact Crescendo Cambodia had started to check and verify this photo directly by running a Google Reverse Image search, which brought us to the sources containing the following photos.

An exact photo of the same shape and form was found on a Human Rights Watch report on April 21, 2021. The same website also confirmed the view of the above photo that it was the televised statement from military leader General Min Aung Hlaing. The following snapshot was captured from the HRW (Human Right Watch) which stated in English as​ “State Administrative Council Chairman and Commander-in-Chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing made a televised statement in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, February 11, 2021”.

Human Rights Watch Link | Archived Link

On April 9, 2021, this photo was also posted and published on the DW News website. The below photo was captured from the DW News Report which stated in English “The UK has said Min Aung Hlaing is responsible for the serious human rights violations committed by the Myanmar security forces”.

DW News Report | Archived Link

Meanwhile, an international newspaper website called The Eastern which was published on April 21, 2021, also posted an exact photo of the military leader Min Aung Hlaing. That photo factually does not show General Min Aung Hlaing pointing a gun at himself at all. The following screenshot was captured from the above website which mentioned in English as​​ “In this image taken from a video posted in Tatmadaw True Information Team Facebook page, State Administrative Council Chairman and Commander-in-Chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing made a televised statement Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Naypyidaw, Myanmar”.

The Eastern Link Report | Archived Link

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You may find the details of this fact-check in Khmer language here as well.

Conclusion

Fact Crescendo Cambodia has found that the photo posted and claimed by the above user was altered. It had been edited before it was posted on social media. This photo factually does not show General Min Aung Hlaing pointing a gun at himself at all. This was taken when Min Aung Hlaing made a televised statement in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, on February 11, 2021.