Major-General Htin Latt Oo, Commander of Rakhine Western Command, Reportedly Removed and Transferred to Reserve Force

 There are reports emerging that Major-General Htin Latt Oo, the commander of the Rakhine-based Western Command of the military junta, has been removed from his position and transferred to the reserve force.

Military analysts have stated that due to the loss of up to 9 townships on the Rakhine front, the military junta has made changes to crucial military positions in Rakhine.

It is reported that Major-General Htin Latt Oo has been replaced by Brigadier General Kyaw Kyaw Han, who is the commander of the 77th Division.

Brigadier General Myo Min Latt, the commander of Sittwe regional operations commands (ROC), who had disagreements with Major-General Htin Latt Oo regarding losing the war against the Rakhine Army (AA), has also been removed from his position and sent to the reserve force.

"We received the news last night. He was transferred to the reserve force. I can't provide details on who will replace him," said a source close to the military.

There are also reports emerging that Brigadier General Kyaw Kyaw Han, the commander of the 77th Division, will be appointed as a replacement for Major-General Htin Latt Oo, and Brigadier General Nay Myo Aung will also be appointed as a replacement for Brigadier General Myo Min Latt, the commander of Sittwe regional operations commands (ROC).

The fight between Major-General Htin Latt Oo, the commander of the Western Command, and Brigadier General Myo Min Latt, the commander of Sittwe regional operations commands (ROC), over the significant military defeat in Rakhine State resulted in Major-General Htin Latt Oo having a broken tooth and Brigadier General Myo Min Latt having a broken nose. As a consequence, the military junta formed a military tribunal and took action regarding their physical altercation.

Captain Zin Yaw, who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), posted on social media on March 20 regarding the change in the Rakhine regional commander.

"In an interview with a news agency regarding Rakhine, I mentioned, 'I believe Min Aung Hlaing is going to replace the commander of the Western Command.' Following the interview, internal news confirmed that the 'commander of the Western Command has been removed from his position'.”

"We have to wait and see what the newly arrived commander of the 77th Division will do. I must say it would be unfortunate because the Arakan Army (AA) is likely to capture Kyaukphyu again after returning from Kunming," wrote Captain Zin Yaw on social media on March 20.

Major-General Htin Latt Oo graduated from the Defense Services Academy (DSA) in batch 35 and became the commander of the Western Command in August 2020, following his tenure as DSA commandant.