Myanmar’s military-backed government revokes UN envoy Kyaw Moe Tun’s status, seeks legal action
Sept 13 (Reuters) -Myanmar’s military-backed government said on Sunday that the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Kyaw Moe Tun, had engaged in “illegal activities” and that his status had been revoked and withdrawn. The announcement, carried by state media, sharpens a long-running dispute over who legitimately represents Myanmar at the world body.
The government said Kyaw Moe Tun was dismissed from the civil service on Feb. 27, 2021, for failing to follow instructions. A day earlier, he had made an emotional appeal to the UN General Assembly, urging the international community not to legitimize the military, which seized power in a coup.
Kyaw Moe Tun was appointed by the previous government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, which was deposed in the 2021 coup. The military takeover triggered widespread protests and a civil war across the country, and it also led to the formation of a parallel civilian administration, the National Unity Government.
Despite the military-backed government’s move, Kyaw Moe Tun’s status at the UN has remained unchanged because the UN Credentials Committee has deferred a decision on Myanmar’s representation. The committee is expected to meet after the UN General Assembly in New York later this month, when it could take up disputes over representation.
Pro-democracy groups and the NUG have helped Kyaw Moe Tun retain his position through international advocacy and lobbying campaigns. In an email to Reuters late on Sunday, the NUG said a national diplomatic post at the UN cannot be unilaterally revoked by military authorities without the consensus or formal acceptance of the UN Credentials Committee.
Myanmar’s military authorities have accused Kyaw Moe Tun of unauthorized use of state property and mission funds while working with the NUG. Kyaw Moe Tun did not respond to an email seeking comment.
The government said it is working through INTERPOL, the United States National Central Bureau, American agencies and diplomatic channels to seek legal action against him.
The dispute leaves Kyaw Moe Tun in an unusual position: rejected by the authorities in Myanmar but still widely seen as the country’s UN representative because the credentials process has not been resolved. Any move by the military-backed government to pursue legal action abroad would depend on cooperation from other countries and international bodies, making the outcome as much a diplomatic test as a legal one.