Nay Pyi Taw, February 16
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Maha Thray Sithu Min Aung Hlaing attended a ceremony to present the Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant by the Thai King this morning and accepted it.
Present at the ceremony together with the Senior General were his wife and family members, Lt-Gen Min Naung of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) and wife, Lt-Gen Soe Htut and wife, senior military officers and their wives, Myanmar Ambassador to Thailand U Myo Myint Than and wife, Myanmar Military Attaché (Army, Navy and Air) Brig-Gen Khin Zaw and wife. The Chief of Defence Force of the Royal Thai Armed Forces was accompanied by his wife Mrs. Jiraporn Srisuwan and senior military officers of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and their wives.
First, the Senior General and party arrived at the office of the Chief of Defence Force of the Royal Thai Armed Forces where the ceremony would take place. The Chief of Defence Force of the Royal Thai Armed Forces welcomed and introduced the senior military officers of the Royal Thai Armed Forces to the Senior General.
The Senior General and the Chief of Defence Force of the Royal Thai Armed Forces took the salute of the Guard of Honour and inspected it. Next,the Senior General introduced the senior Myanmar military officers to the Chief of Defence Force of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Then, the Senior General signed the visitors’ book of the office of the Chief of Defence Force of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
Then, the ceremony followed. The master of ceremonies read out the message on presenting the honorary award sent by Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and Defence Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon. On Behalf of the Thai King, Chief of Defence Force of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Gen. Tarnchaiyan Srisuwan presented the Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant to Senior General Maha Thray Sithu Min Aung Hlaing. The Chief of Defence Force of the Royal Thai Armed Forces gave an honorary speech and the Senior General spoke words of thanks.
Afterwards, the senior military officers of the Royal Thai Armed Forces in attendance at the ceremony individually greeted the Senior General and wife. They then posed for a documentary photo. After the ceremony, the Guard of Honour of the Royal Thai Armed Forces saluted the Senior General and the Chief of Defence Force of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
Thai King Rama X. Maha Vajiralongkorn awarded The Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant and insignia to Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Maha Thray Sithu Min Aung Hlaing on 21 August 2017 for brilliant performance of State’s duties as the chief of the Tatmadaw of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, relentless services for the State, contribution to the mutual interests of the two countries, and notable efforts in establishing good and amicable relations between Myanmar Tatmadaw and Royal Thai Armed Forces.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is the first of Myanmar Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services to have received The Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant. This is the higher class award, which is barely presented to a foreigner, after Senior General received The Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand awarded by Thai King Rama IX Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2013 in recognition of the his efforts for promoting the bilateral ties between the two armed forces. Only a few international figures have received the award including Cambodian King Norodom, Admiral Mountbatten, Queen Victoria, and Chief of Staff of the United States Army William Westmoreland.
