Zaw Min Tun (general)

Zaw Min Tun (Burmese: ဇော်မင်းထွန်း; pronounced [zɔ̀ mɪ́ɰ̃ tʰʊ̀ɴ]; born in Myanmar) is a Burmese army general and senior spokesperson for the Myanmar Army. He has served as Deputy Minister of Information of Myanmar since 7 February 2021.^[3][4] He is the Information Team Leader of the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) and Director of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare of the Myanmar Army. Zaw Min Tun previously headed the Tatmadaw True News Information Team and served as Head of the Press Team of the State Administration Council (SAC), the military-led governing body that administered Myanmar following the 2021 coup until its dissolution on 31 July 2025.^[5][6][7] He has represented the government in press briefings regarding the 2025–26 Myanmar general election, post-election procedures under the 2008 Constitution, and nationwide efforts to combat online scams.

Zaw Min Tun has acted as the military's chief spokesperson since the coup, regularly addressing the media on behalf of the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) and government. He oversees state-run information channels and is responsible for shaping official messaging both domestically and internationally, while representing the military in public communications and strategic engagements abroad.^[8][9]

Zaw Min Tun was born in Yenangyaung, a town in central Myanmar.^[10][11] He graduated from the 37th intake of the Defence Services Academy (DSA), Myanmar's premier military training institution.^[12][13]

At the academy, he received training in military leadership, strategy, and communication, skills that shaped his future roles in operations and military public relations.^[14][15]

Zaw Min Tun graduated from the 37th intake of the Defence Services Academy (DSA) and began his military career, rising through the ranks and later assuming leadership roles in the armed forces' communications and information management.^[16][17]

Zaw Min Tun has served in military public communications roles since at least 2018, when he led the Tatmadaw True News Information Team, and continued as a spokesperson through 2019 and beyond.

Following the February 2021 coup, he was appointed Head of the Press Team of the State Administration Council (SAC) on 5 February 2021 and Deputy Minister of Information of Myanmar on 7 February 2021. He also assumed the position of Director of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare of the Myanmar Army in February 2021. In these roles, he represents the Tatmadaw and government in press briefings, oversees state-run information channels, and manages official communications on domestic and international issues.

On 3 September 2025, Zaw Min Tun was appointed Information Team Leader of the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC), taking charge of the council’s information and communications operations. In this role, he manages official statements, press releases, and media communications on behalf of the NDSC, ensuring consistent messaging both domestically and internationally.^[18][19]

Throughout his tenure in these positions, Zaw Min Tun has represented the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) in official engagements, public communications, and international matters, including announcements on election preparations, national security operations, and strategic cooperation with other countries.^[20]

In 2019, he publicly rejected a prisoner exchange proposal from the Arakan Army, stating that the Tatmadaw does not negotiate with organizations it classifies as terrorist groups. He later defended the 2022 executions of political activists, describing them as lawful and necessary despite international criticism.^[21][22][23]

Zaw Min Tun has also addressed personal and symbolic moments within the military, including the death of his nephew, Lieutenant Colonel Thet Paing Tun, during clashes with ethnic armed groups.^[24][25] He was involved in communications during Operation 1027, launched by the Three Brotherhood Alliance in northern Shan State.^[26][27]

Internationally, he has represented the military in engagements with countries such as Russia, facilitating cooperation on nuclear energy and infrastructure projects.^[28][29] In February 2025, he dismissed an Argentine court's arrest warrant for Myanmar's military leaders as politically motivated interference.^[30][31]

He confirmed preparations for the 2025 general election and addressed Myanmar's diplomatic efforts, including relations with India and participation in BIMSTEC summits.^[32][33]

Zaw Min Tun has addressed topics including the 2025 Myanmar general elections, post-election procedures under the 2008 Constitution, and nationwide campaigns against online scams. He regularly serves as the military’s spokesperson, providing official statements and briefings to national and international media

In July 2025, Zaw Min Tun announced the lifting of the state emergency in certain parts of Myanmar while noting that emergency measures remained in other regions due to security concerns.^[34] He stated that elections were to be held within six months under a commission chaired by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.^[35][36]

On 7 September 2025, he commented on reports about State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s health, stating that the reports were inaccurate and intended to discredit Senior General Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to China.^[37] Around the same period, Arakan Army commander-in-chief Major General Twan Mrat Naing (Tun Myat Naing), expressed concern for Aung San Suu Kyi's health and stated that a credible peace process could not be achieved without her release and that of other political prisoners.^[38]

On 10 October 2025, Zaw Min Tun reported that narcotics seizures linked to the Arakan Army (AA) over the past decade had an estimated value exceeding 1,200 billion kyats. He detailed operations spanning from 2015 to 2025, describing methods of transport and concealment. He also reported arrests of individuals allegedly involved in these cases.^[39]

On 16 October 2025, he stated that the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) process would continue regardless of the participation of individual ethnic armed groups, emphasizing its binding nature and importance for nation-building.^[40][41][42]

On 21 October 2025, he reported on cyber fraud operations in KK Park, Myawaddy, alleging involvement by the Karen National Union (KNU).^[43][44] Security forces detained over 2,000 people and seized unlicensed internet terminals as part of the operation.^{[45][46][47][48][49]}

On 30 October 2025, Zaw Min Tun stated that Myanmar had implemented the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus without harming national sovereignty, highlighting the coordination between Myanmar and ASEAN while addressing attacks by the National Unity Government (NUG) and People's Defense Forces (PDF).^[50]

On 11 November 2025, he responded to international criticism of the planned national election, stating that foreign influence would not affect the election and that the process was an internal matter for Myanmar’s citizens.^[51]

On 19 November 2025, as Head of the NDSC Information Team, he reported on operations to combat online gambling and telecom fraud in the Myawaddy region, highlighting regional cooperation with neighboring countries and actions against ethnic armed groups in the affected areas.^[52][53][54]

On 22 November 2025, following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, Zaw Min Tun, Information Team Leader of the NDSC, reaffirmed Myanmar’s commitment to the One China Policy, emphasizing the country's consistent respect for China’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.^[55][56]

In December 2025, he stated that the 2025–26 Myanmar general election is conducted for the people rather than to gain international approval. Speaking to Japan’s NHK, he rejected claims that the election is being forced or unfair, emphasized that participation is voluntary, and noted that the process aims to restore a multi-party democratic system and build a federal union. The election was scheduled in three phases, beginning on 28 December 2025, with subsequent phases on 11 January 2026 and later in January. Some international organizations and media expressed concerns about the elections, including assessments by the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), statements from the European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights, and warnings from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding repression and exclusion of major political parties.^[57][58][59]

Regarding the post-election political landscape, he clarified that whether Acting President and Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing serves as president will follow the 2008 Constitution. Speaking at a press conference in Yangon on 14 December 2025, he explained that the president is elected through a parliamentary process and that individual preference does not determine eligibility. He noted that Min Aung Hlaing has held various state responsibilities at both regional and national levels, and that any appointment would follow legal procedures.^[60]

In the same month, Zaw Min Tun led press briefings on nationwide efforts to dismantle online scam networks and eradicate illegal operations. Authorities conducted raids on major scam centers near Myawaddy in Kayin State, resulting in the detention of thousands of foreign nationals from multiple countries. He provided updates on the operations and emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the problem, while noting that deportation and coordination with international authorities were ongoing.^[61]

Zaw Min Tun is married to Thin Thin Aung, and they have one child called Thar Htet Htun. ^[62] While the family maintains a low public profile, they have occasionally appeared together at official military events and government functions.

• State Administration Council
• Ministry of Information (Myanmar)
• Director of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare of the Myanmar Army
• Chief of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team
• Head of the Press Team of the State Administration Council
• Deputy Minister of Information (Myanmar)
• Myanmar Army
• Tatmadaw
• Tatmadaw True News Information Team
• Defence Services Academy

• Ministry of Information - Myanmar Government
• CNN Interview with Major General Zaw Min Tun
• Myanmar Ministry of Defence Official Website
• Exclusive Interview with Major General Zaw Min Tun, Spokesperson of SAC