Ambassador deposed as Myanmar strife hits UK
MYANMAR’S military coup has reached the streets of London, the country’s exambassador claimed, after he was ousted when officials loyal to the junta barred him from the embassy.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned the “bullying” Myanmar regime for their response to Kyaw Zwar Minn, after he criticised the military coup.
Mr Raab paid tribute to the “courage” of the diplomat, who said he had pent the night in his car, having been locked out of the embassy in Mayfair on Wednesday.
Kyaw Zwar Minn alleged the embassy was “seized” by its military attache in an “unacceptable and disrespectful” act against Myanmar’s people and the UK.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, he said: “This kind of coup is happening in the middle of the UK, in the middle of London – this shouldn’t be happening.”
Kyaw Zwar Minn said he still believed he was ambassador but, when it was put to him that the Myanmar state had declared he was no longer their envoy, he said: “I haven’t got that information yet.”
The diplomat had called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s elected leader who was detained in the wake of the military seizing power in a coup on February 1 – a move which has sparked weeks of protest and a retaliation from the regime resulting in bloodshed across the country.
British officials were understood to have pressed Myanmar’s authorities on Wednesday night about whether the regime was formally terminating the ambassador’s position.
The UK has since received that confirmation, and it was argued within the Foreign Office that the decision of the Myanmar regime must be rejected as the UK has a policy of recognising states, not governments, but no formal notification of his replacement has been received as diplomats communicate with the embassy’s chargé d’affaires, deputy ambassador Chit Win.
Kyaw Zwar Minn was holding talks with the Foreign Office yesterday, as he suggested he wants the UK to kick out those who ousted him from the embassy. Asked what he wants the Government to do, he gestured to the embassy in Mayfair’s Charles Street and said “out”. When pressed if he wants the current occupants to be kicked out, he responded “yes”.
Mr Raab wrote on Twitter: “We condemn the bullying actions of the Myanmar military regime in London yesterday, and I pay tribute to Kyaw Zwar Minn for his courage. The UK continues to call for an end to the coup and the appalling violence, and a swift restoration of democracy.”
A statement read out yesterday on behalf of Kyaw Zwar Minn outside the embassy said that he was facing repercussions, after making a statement in March condemning the coup in Myanmar and calling for a return of democracy in the Asian country.
“Since then, he has stopped following instruction from the Myanmar foreign ministry and he has been meeting with many diplomatic counterparts and Myanmar community to discuss the current situation in Myanmar hoping to find a peaceful solution,” the statement continued.
“Due to his stance, the Myanmar embassy in London has been seized by the military attache yesterday evening. The ambassador has been locked out since then.”
Kyaw Zwar Minn was seen getting out of a car that bore a large image of Ms Suu Kyi across its rear window on Wednesday evening, and ringing a doorbell as he unsuccessfully tried to enter the building while a small number of police officers stood nearby.