![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UHRST7NZQA7T64FBSGUSHAO6V4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e28ab8b289ce63e93f48e5bf960f4e010db186812d8a861b841151dc91a1a83e&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar Air Force helicopers take part in a display. AFP
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Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing presides over a parade during the 77th Armed Forces Day in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. EPA
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Myanmar military officers on parade. AP
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The army will 'annihilate' coup opponents, the junta chief said on Sunday as the military staged a show of force on the anniversary of its bloodiest crackdown so far on democracy protests. AP
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The South-east Asian country has been in chaos since a coup in February last year, with more than 1,700 people killed in crackdowns on dissent, according to a local monitoring group. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HJELIEXZ3ZYVCUF55HSGC5HZ5E.jpg?smart=true&auth=10ef08f83ce04d47a70bc36709ddc543116ceec96422398568c012a2635f9f09&width=400&height=225)
Military hardware is displayed during the parade. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M4HB6SKOZIGIN2AK2PJTE2NZGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6598d65a5ba77362364e54b3fbdac9c512e6ab37aa19bfd65144220d1000d382&width=400&height=225)
'People's Defence Force' fighters clash regularly with troops, with some analysts suggesting the military has struggled to respond effectively to their hit-and-run tactics. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7IMZMXS2HZ7R5OBAR66FAYTLME.jpg?smart=true&auth=7fe93f8721889fb99cb84568a2d81d3a050668631a37cd6acbdd6c048709f931&width=400&height=225)
Jets flew overhead at the parade trailing the yellow, red and green of the national flag. EPA
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Armed Forces Day commemorates the start of local resistance to the Japanese occupation during the Second World War. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JGBCLKHZ2ZL66SA7P762FBT3BQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d6c2d24d860aecb062d3da5393e21800a7b235c9f58e6d469a0a7f4e7d79bea&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar soldiers stand on military vehicles during the parade. EPA
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Last year, as Min Aung Hlaing inspected the parade, the military carried out a crackdown on democracy rallies that left about 160 protesters dead, according to a local monitoring group. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UQERFJ2S47EFVCN744QTFBDRTM.jpg?smart=true&auth=cab07a598e4f8294f217439d85654127e53b068c8a16d41e426e99933fd0ace6&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar female soldiers march at the parade. EPA
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The junta has become increasingly isolated, with Cambodia's leader Hun Sen the only foreign leader to visit since the coup. EPA
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On Sunday Min Aung Hlaing accused unnamed 'foreign aggressors' of working against the military and called for the armed forces to remain united against 'internal and external mischiefs'. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MDSMHAUEK5RAS4PN6G24I4RIYU.jpg?smart=true&auth=61ccfd15fdac15e222c492c96e4ba9d49d2fb8b078f60ec438ea428da33d1462&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar military officers leave the venue. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7T5KL6PKFKY26RYUKRL4ZFFYQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4085514a5221c749a1e9a094212b2ad9cd5e03348f2c8fc1d864da8b21bd98c&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar soldiers stand on military vehicles during a parade commemorating the 77th Armed Forces Day in Naypyidaw Myanmar. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7GNCKWWF3J5B5NSS5M7TJVDC3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=0f8f25eb7c48fa991566d2da70308d49112320219902d7ede7ebd1e8914029fb&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar's military officers stand on top of trucks loaded with missiles. AP
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Myanmar fighter jets perform in the sky. AP
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Russia's vice defence minister had been due to attend this year's parade but was unable to because of his “country's affairs”, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3SXCLH2X26EXPEFJYQ7GR4FNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=85546a79dfe237af550834aefef04d73df645a5ada1ad59a90e480df61f6c006&width=400&height=225)
In February a UN expert on Myanmar said Russia, along with other major ally China, was continuing to supply the military with weapons, including fighter jets and armoured vehicles. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UHRST7NZQA7T64FBSGUSHAO6V4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e28ab8b289ce63e93f48e5bf960f4e010db186812d8a861b841151dc91a1a83e&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar Air Force helicopers take part in a display. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CY622XQEXJS5TFCFK6QKLS5HHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=07c605f0fc16bfabb39f202b63f43ad2c65a11b4119404e4b4e55b63c04fc768&width=400&height=225)
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing presides over a parade during the 77th Armed Forces Day in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LHHIL4YN4WVVRXLUPZHBVKYJBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf720cf9272667011f142c28247b1ccad2a7b7420fda39d1ffd84874902d32c5&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar military officers on parade. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NMZTUR6X2T3SAITK66UTVZWV34.jpg?smart=true&auth=90aab64fbae87808801374465473e4ae46e6f7b9f93fc44b90497ce6b481aa1c&width=400&height=225)
The army will 'annihilate' coup opponents, the junta chief said on Sunday as the military staged a show of force on the anniversary of its bloodiest crackdown so far on democracy protests. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BZEL4WQV7HYFMDH5HC7M5HRTFU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c67485ea934ea0bb86d45393b38d67cc27001488fbe1285af9e2cb0e7c5fb2dd&width=400&height=225)
The South-east Asian country has been in chaos since a coup in February last year, with more than 1,700 people killed in crackdowns on dissent, according to a local monitoring group. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HJELIEXZ3ZYVCUF55HSGC5HZ5E.jpg?smart=true&auth=10ef08f83ce04d47a70bc36709ddc543116ceec96422398568c012a2635f9f09&width=400&height=225)
Military hardware is displayed during the parade. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M4HB6SKOZIGIN2AK2PJTE2NZGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6598d65a5ba77362364e54b3fbdac9c512e6ab37aa19bfd65144220d1000d382&width=400&height=225)
'People's Defence Force' fighters clash regularly with troops, with some analysts suggesting the military has struggled to respond effectively to their hit-and-run tactics. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7IMZMXS2HZ7R5OBAR66FAYTLME.jpg?smart=true&auth=7fe93f8721889fb99cb84568a2d81d3a050668631a37cd6acbdd6c048709f931&width=400&height=225)
Jets flew overhead at the parade trailing the yellow, red and green of the national flag. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D2EPD227UWWT7CFPPSHSDMLTJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1c4c5e1f0115688f91ec0cb8c5d576436862f2d28aa6158881914676ab9bf6f7&width=400&height=225)
Armed Forces Day commemorates the start of local resistance to the Japanese occupation during the Second World War. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JGBCLKHZ2ZL66SA7P762FBT3BQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d6c2d24d860aecb062d3da5393e21800a7b235c9f58e6d469a0a7f4e7d79bea&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar soldiers stand on military vehicles during the parade. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C67JH4TGZSZHCEKTE26OMGAVM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc3b60ef6be26a16693289a567dcfcd4aeea77fb29b73a4028db67e94b68232f&width=400&height=225)
Last year, as Min Aung Hlaing inspected the parade, the military carried out a crackdown on democracy rallies that left about 160 protesters dead, according to a local monitoring group. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UQERFJ2S47EFVCN744QTFBDRTM.jpg?smart=true&auth=cab07a598e4f8294f217439d85654127e53b068c8a16d41e426e99933fd0ace6&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar female soldiers march at the parade. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O5HNKPOIA4HGZZS4VSEPPE4ZMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e46d83bf71fa8bcd0f6962a51c28f56845f1610ce4838f94fbce1efd3cea91d0&width=400&height=225)
The junta has become increasingly isolated, with Cambodia's leader Hun Sen the only foreign leader to visit since the coup. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CDAKT7VBSLYTYRZJTZHH43TJTQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ed9ef9ccf5305f17d594714d44c87c85609cb841ce0c56f1d107a777c9d69518&width=400&height=225)
On Sunday Min Aung Hlaing accused unnamed 'foreign aggressors' of working against the military and called for the armed forces to remain united against 'internal and external mischiefs'. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MDSMHAUEK5RAS4PN6G24I4RIYU.jpg?smart=true&auth=61ccfd15fdac15e222c492c96e4ba9d49d2fb8b078f60ec438ea428da33d1462&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar military officers leave the venue. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7T5KL6PKFKY26RYUKRL4ZFFYQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4085514a5221c749a1e9a094212b2ad9cd5e03348f2c8fc1d864da8b21bd98c&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar soldiers stand on military vehicles during a parade commemorating the 77th Armed Forces Day in Naypyidaw Myanmar. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7GNCKWWF3J5B5NSS5M7TJVDC3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=0f8f25eb7c48fa991566d2da70308d49112320219902d7ede7ebd1e8914029fb&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar's military officers stand on top of trucks loaded with missiles. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LZXRIFXTK5NUR3E3UVC4OOYQ5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=c5723fb3742320b2ddf0ad1989705e2871c10643f07afeeeff6e887c81236a93&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar fighter jets perform in the sky. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V3PTU6JWASHSCRFB5JLY2UV2DY.jpg?smart=true&auth=075856817ceb361de281289d2f3b0eaa5bcbff8beaa3474f87f1838b838f4a3b&width=400&height=225)
Russia's vice defence minister had been due to attend this year's parade but was unable to because of his “country's affairs”, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3SXCLH2X26EXPEFJYQ7GR4FNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=85546a79dfe237af550834aefef04d73df645a5ada1ad59a90e480df61f6c006&width=400&height=225)
In February a UN expert on Myanmar said Russia, along with other major ally China, was continuing to supply the military with weapons, including fighter jets and armoured vehicles. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UHRST7NZQA7T64FBSGUSHAO6V4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e28ab8b289ce63e93f48e5bf960f4e010db186812d8a861b841151dc91a1a83e&width=400&height=225)
Myanmar Air Force helicopers take part in a display. AFP
Myanmar junta chief says army will 'annihilate' coup opponents
Min Aung Hlaing accuses unnamed 'foreign aggressors' of working against the military
AFP
27 March, 2022
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