Britain today condemned “bullying” by Myanmar’s military government after the country’s ambassador to London was ousted in an extraordinary diplomatic coup after calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.
By AFP
Diplomats loyal to the Tatmadaw seized control of the Myanmar embassy in the United Kingdom yesterday, leaving ambassador U Kyaw Zwar Minn locked out in the street.
The ambassador said the defence attache had taken over the mission in “a kind of coup”, two months after the military seized power in Myanmar.
Daily protests demanding a return of democracy have rocked the country and brought a brutal response from the armed forces, with almost 600 civilians killed according to a local monitoring group.
The coup prompted several high-profile diplomatic defections, including the country’s ambassador to the United Nations.
The military regime recalled Kyaw Zwar Minn last month after he issued a statement urging them to release State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and deposed civilian President U Win Myint.
British foreign minister Mr Dominic Raab tweeted his support for the ambassador, who spent the night in his car outside the embassy.
“We condemn the bullying actions of the Myanmar military regime in London yesterday, and I pay tribute to Kyaw Zwar Minn for his courage,” Raab wrote.
“The UK continues to call for an end to the coup and the appalling violence, and a swift restoration of democracy.”
UK sources said the military regime had given official notice of Kyaw Zwar Minn’s termination as ambassador, and in line with diplomatic policy the government had no choice but to accept it.
Protesters gathered outside the mission yesterday evening with the ousted ambassador, who told the Daily Telegraph that “when I left the embassy, they stormed inside the embassy and took it.”
Asked who had taken over, he replied: “Defence attache, they occupy my embassy”.
According to The Times newspaper, the ambassador said the defence attache had sought to install his former deputy as charge d’affaires.
Myanmar’s military authorities did not respond to a request for comment on the incident from AFP.
Heartthrob held
Myanmar’s security forces have struggled to quell protests and a civil disobedience movement aimed at overturning the February 1 military coup.
They have used rubber bullets and live rounds to break up rallies and used night raids to arrest suspected dissidents.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners says at least 598 civilians have been killed and nearly 2,900 detained.
AAPP said that 12 people were killed yesterday.
Local media reports said there were a further 11 deaths today, though AFP has been unable to confirm this figure.
As part of its efforts to suppress the movement, the regime has issued a wanted notice for some 120 celebrities accused of fanning the protests by lending their support.
Today, the military arrested leading actor, model and heartthrob Paing Takhon in a dawn raid at his mother’s home in Yangon.
The 24-year-old — a star in both Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand — has been active in the protest movement both in person at rallies and through his massive social media following.
In February, he posted pictures of himself in a white tracksuit with a megaphone, hard hat and a white fluffy dog strapped to his chest at a protest.
UN meeting
International powers have voiced anger and dismay at the Tatmadaw’s brutal approach, but the UN Security Council has stopped short of considering sanctions, with both China and Russia against the move.
A group representing the ousted civilian government yesterday began talks with UN investigators, saying it had gathered more than 270,000 pieces of evidence showing rights abuses by the junta.
A lawyer for the Committee for Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw met the investigators to discuss alleged atrocities.
The CRPH, which claims the right to represent Myanmar in place of the military regime, says it has evidence of more than 540 extrajudicial executions and 10 deaths of prisoners in custody as well as torture and illegal detentions.
The military has defended seizing power, pointing to unsubstantiated allegations of voting fraud in the November election which the NLD won comfortably, and says it is responding proportionately to the demonstrations.
Military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing accused the protesters of wanting to “destroy the country” and said only 248 protesters had been killed, along with 16 police officers
