Than Hlaing

Lieutenant-General Than Hlaing (Burmese: သန်းလှိုင်; born in 1965[1]) is a Burmese politician and army officer who served as the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Chief of the Myanmar Police Force (MPF), appointed by the State Administration Council on 2 February 2021, in the aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.

[3] The MPF falls within the jurisdiction of the Minister of Home Affairs,[4] currently headed by Myanmar Army Lieutenant General Soe Htut.

[6][7] Since 18 February 2021, HM Treasury and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on "Than Hlaing" for responsibility for serious human rights violations by the Myanmar Police Force.

[8] Since 22 March 2021, The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on "Than Hlaing", in response to the Burmese military's continued campaign of violence and intimidation against peaceful protesters and civil society, pursuant to Executive Order 14014.

Under Than Hlaing's leadership, the Burma Police Force has gone from attacking peaceful protesters with water cannons, rubber bullets, and tear gas, to using live ammunition.