YANGON – The junta has “nothing to do” with an alleged plot to attack the Myanmar ambassador to the United Nations (UN), who has defied the military and backed the pro-democracy movement, said state media today.
Kyaw Moe Tun made headlines after the February coup by the military, brazenly disregarding the insistence by the junta that he no longer represents the country at the New York-based body.
Last week, United States (US) prosecutors charged two Myanmar citizens over an alleged plot to hire hitmen who would force Kyaw Moe Tun to resign or, if he refused, kill him.
“Myanmar has nothing to do with this incident,” said state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper today, in the first comments on the case by the junta.
It added that “the said plot... happened among the residents inside the US”, and action should be taken “in accordance with the law of the land”.
Suspects Phyo Hein Htut, 28, and Ye Hein Zaw, 20, are being charged in a federal court on counts for which they could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
Prosecutors said Phyo Hein Htut had been in touch with an arms dealer in Thailand who had dealings with the military in Myanmar.
The arms dealer spoke to Phyo Hein Htut about hiring assailants for the plot, which involved sabotaging the ambassador’s car to force it to crash, said the criminal complaint.
According to a local monitoring group, more than 900 people have died in Myanmar, as the military seeks to crush protests against the coup.
Kyaw Moe Tun – who is wanted for high treason in Myanmar – has repeatedly called for international intervention to help end the unrest and reinstate civilian government.
Last week, he sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to report an alleged massacre of 40 civilians by the military in Sagaing, north-western Myanmar, over several days last month.
The junta has denied the accusation, while AFP has not been able to independently verify the report. – AFP, August 10, 2021
