Confusion over who represents coup-hit Myanmar at UN

NEW YORK – Myanmar’s military junta and the envoy sent by its toppled civilian government have launched contradictory claims over who represents the country at the United Nations, officials said yesterday.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun spectacularly broke with the junta before the General Assembly on Friday in an emotional plea for help to restore ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The next day, the junta said the envoy has been sacked, but on Monday Kyaw Moe Tun sent a letter to the president of the UN General Assembly to say that he still holds the post.

“The perpetrators of the unlawful coup... have no authority to countermand the legitimate authority of the president of my country,” said the letter, referring to Suu Kyi.

“I wish, therefore, to confirm to you that I remain Myanmar’s permanent representative to the UN.”

Yesterday, Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry sent a note verbale to the UN, claiming Kyaw Moe Tun has been removed.

“The Foreign Ministry... has the honour to inform that the state administration council of the republic of the Union of Myanmar has terminated the duties and responsibilities of ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun,” the note said.

“At present, Tin Maung Naing, deputy permanent representative ambassador, has been assigned as the charge d’affaires ad interim of the permanent mission.”

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told a press briefing that the body has received the two “contradictory” letters.

“We are taking a look at those letters, where they came from and what we will do.”

The United States backed Kyaw Moe Tun and hailed his “bravery”, with a State Department spokesman saying “we understand that the permanent representative remains in his position”.

“We will continue to oppose the military coup and we will continue to support the restoration of Burma’s democratically elected civilian government,” the US spokesman said.

UN accreditation and protocol committees will look into the issue, and then refer it to the General Assembly.

Dujarric said the UN envoy to Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, who is currently in Switzerland, “continues her conversations with various parties regarding the current situation”.

On Friday, Burgener said “it is important that the international community does not lend legitimacy or recognition to this regime”, and called for the community to press for a return to democracy. – AFP, March 3, 2021