Myanmar ‘bullies’ oust envoy at London embassy

MYANMAR’S MILITARY coup has reached the streets of London, the country’s ambassador 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.

He paid tribute to the “courage” of the diplomat, who said he spent the night in his car having been locked out of the embassy in Mayfair, central London, on Wednesday.

Kyaw Zwar Minn alleged the embassy was seized by the 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 that has sparked weeks of protest and a retaliation from the regime resulting in bloodshed.

British officials were understood to have pressed Myanmar’s authorities on Wednesday on whether the regime was 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.

Mr Raab said: “We condemn the bullying actions of the Myanmar military regime in London yesterday and I pay tribute to Kyaw Zwar Minn for his courage.”

He called for an end to the coup “and the appalling violence”.