Myanmar’s Junta Tries – and Fails – to Appoint a New UN Ambassador

THE I DIPLOMAT

Sebastian Strangio

July 21, 2021

But the military’s takeover has trapped foreign governments between dueling moral and diplomatic imperatives.

Yesterday, the Associated Press reported that Myanmar’s military junta has attempted – unsuccessfully – to replace the country’s ambassador to the United Nations, foreshadowing a looming battle over diplomatic recognition at the world body.

In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres dated May 12, a copy of which was obtained by the news agency, the junta’s Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin said he had appointed the former military commander Aung Thurein as Myanmar’s U.N. ambassador.

Wunna Maung Lwin said in an accompanying letter that Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar’s currently recognized U.N. ambassador, “has been terminated on Feb. 27, 2021, due to abuses of his assigned duty and mandate.”

As Burma Ambassador in NY Fired NYT Errs and Says Geneva Amid Silent Guterres Sleaze

Inner City Press
By Matthew Russell Lee,
Patreon,BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
27 Feb 2021

SDNY / UN GATE, Feb 27 – After the Burma coup regime fired its New York-based UN ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun for his speech in New York in the usually scripted UN General Assembly, the New York Times reported that the speech had been in Geneva.

Seven hours later, that remained uncorrected. And UN Sec-Gen Antonio Guterres, a darling of the NYT, was typically silent, wanting a second five-year term. All of this must be, and is being, opposed.

the ambassador to the UN dismissed from his post

Saxon

February 28, 2021

The junta in Burma on Saturday dismissed its ambassador to the United Nations, the day after its spectacular break with military power which intensified the repression of demonstrators in the country.

On Saturday evening, state television MRTV announced that Kyaw Moe Tun was no longer Burma’s ambassador to the UN. He “did not follow the orders and direction of the state, and betrayed the country“, she announced.”Therefore, he is dismissed from his post as of today“.

Egyptian Ambassador assures Bangladesh PM of Cairo’s continued support over Rohingya crisis

THE POLICY TIMES
TPT Bureau
February 18, 2021

Egypt will continue its support to repatriate the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.

DHAKA Bureau Policy Times:

Egyptian Ambassador in Dhaka Bangladesh Haytham Ghobashy Wednesday (17 February) assured Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, his country would continue to stand by Bangladesh over the Rohingya crisis as he paid a courtesy call on her at the premier’s official Ganobhaban residence.

“The newly appointed envoy said Egypt will continue its support to repatriate the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar,” a premier’s office spokesman said after the call on.

Australian ambassador meets with Myanmar military chief accused of Rohingya genocide

The Guardian
Ben Doherty
@bendohertycorro
Thu 20 Feb 2020



Exclusive: Australia accused of giving legitimacy and credibility to a military accused of mass atrocities

 Australia’s ambassador to Myanmar, Andrea Faulkner, met Min Aung Hlaing on 29 January at the Bayintnaung Villa in the capital, Naypyidaw. Photograph: Supplied 

The commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s defence forces – recommended by the UN for investigation and prosecution for war crimes and genocide – has met with Australia’s ambassador and says he wants to train more of his officers in Australia.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is the supreme commander of Myanmar’s military, known as the Tatmadaw, which has been accused of genocide in its systematic persecution of the ethnic and religious minority Rohingya.

Envoy’s ‘GOOD LUCK’ to Myanmar was a mistake

The Daily Star
Reuters, Jerusalem
November 29, 2019

The Israeli ambassador was mistaken to have sent a “GOOD LUCK” message to Myanmar ahead of World Court hearings on accusations the state committed genocide against Rohingya Muslims, Israel’s foreign ministry said yesterday.

Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported that the ambassador to Myanmar wished authorities good luck in tweets that have since been deleted ahead of the hearings next month at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.