Myanmar junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing narrowly escaped an improvised rocket attack last month while staying at the Central Military Command (CMC) headquarters inside the historic Mandalay Palace, according to military sources.
Sources based in Naypyitaw told local media that the attack occurred in the early hours of January 27, targeting the CMC compound. The junta leader had reportedly spent the previous night there in preparation for performing a yadaya ritual — a traditional Burmese practice believed to avert misfortune and ensure good fortune.
Dressed in royal regalia, Min Aung Hlaing had planned to enter the palace via the Mingalar Bridge at 4:41 a.m., an astrologically auspicious time. The ritual was reportedly intended to secure favorable outcomes amid Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict and the post-election political landscape. The regime-backed party recently claimed victory in a controversial vote, and the junta chief is widely expected to assume the presidency.
Military sources said the rockets missed their intended target. “He was in a state of shock and decided to lay low for about a week,” one source stated.
Resistance Group Claims Responsibility
The resistance group Brave Warriors for Myanmar (BWM) claimed responsibility for the attack in a Facebook post on January 27. The group said its fighters fired improvised 107-mm rockets at approximately 4:30 a.m., with three projectiles reportedly detonating inside the compound. BWM claimed several officers were injured but said it was unclear whether the junta leader had been harmed.
The group stated the operation was carried out after receiving intelligence that Min Aung Hlaing would be staying at the palace compound.
Week-Long Disappearance Fuels Speculation
Following the attack, Min Aung Hlaing disappeared from public view for a week, fueling widespread speculation and rumors regarding his condition, including claims that he had been killed.
However, on February 3, he reappeared publicly during a meeting with Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of Russia’s Security Council, effectively dispelling the rumors. Days later, he traveled to Yangon to attend a ceremony at Yangon University, where he received an honorary doctorate at the Convocation Hall.
Superstition and Political Ambition
Myanmar’s military leadership has long been associated with strong beliefs in astrology, numerology, occult practices, and yadaya rituals. Observers say Min Aung Hlaing is no exception.
In early 2020, months before the general election, he placed a ceremonial Hti umbrella atop the ancient Htilominlo Temple in Bagan, under the guidance of the monk Vasipake Sayadaw — a religious figure widely believed to be his spiritual adviser.
According to traditional belief, rulers who make offerings at significant pagodas receive divine blessings and long reigns. The junta leader has also reportedly made frequent visits to eastern Shan State to consult the monk, who has been described as his astrological counselor.
Myanmar continues to face intense armed conflict and political instability following the military takeover, with resistance groups launching periodic attacks against regime targets across the country.
