Lord of the Rings in Burma

"Oh, my precious..."

In this image by JMP, we see a figure with a name tag "Golhlaing," which appears to be a cross between General Min Aung Hlaing and Gollum, the creature from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The figure appears with a hunched posture, piercing eyes, rotting teeth, and a maniacal expression. Instead of obsessing over the One Ring, however, he is shown clutching a precious gem that represents the valuable resources of Myanmar.

The gem serves as a metaphorical representation of the country's wealth and natural resources, which should be used for the benefit of the people. However, in this cartoon, Min Aung Hlaing is depicted as debasing his soul by selling off these valuable gems to fund his destructive actions and maintain his grip on power.

The metaphor draws parallels between Gollum's obsession with the Ring, which corrupted his character and consumed him with greed, and Min Aung Hlaing's actions in Myanmar. It suggests that his lust for power and personal gain leads him to exploit the country's resources, sacrificing the well-being of the people and causing immense harm to the nation.

By linking Min Aung Hlaing to Gollum, the cartoon metaphorically portrays him as a figure consumed by his own desires, willing to sacrifice the precious treasures of Myanmar for his own selfish purposes and maniacal desires. It highlights the destructive consequences of his actions and the impact they have on the country and its people.