Myanmar’s ambassador in London accuses military junta of ‘disrespecting’ UK after he is locked out of Mayfair embassy John Dunne and Michael Howie
Myanmar’s UK ambassador today blasted the military regime’s “unacceptable and disrespectful” actions after he was locked out of the London embassy and forced to spend the night in his car.
Kyaw Zwar Minn described the apparent seizing of the embassy by the military junta as “a coup d’état in central London”.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned Myanmar’s “bullying” that saw the ambassador shut out of the building in Mayfair last night.
The envoy broke with the junta last month when he called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s elected leader who was detained in the wake of the military seizing power on February 1, a move which has sparked weeks of protests.
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Myanmar’s ambassador to London told Reuters he was locked out of the embassy on Wednesday, but sources said his deputy had shut him out of the building and taken charge on behalf of the military.
The military seized power in Myanmar in a coup in February and have since cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.
London ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn has broken ranks with the ruling junta in recent weeks, calling for the release of detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
“I have been locked out,” he told Reuters outside the embassy in central London.
Four diplomatic sources with knowledge of the matter said that deputy ambassador Chit Win has taken over as charge d’affairs and he and the military attaché had locked the ambassador out of the building.
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Myanmar’s ambassador in London has spent the night in his car after saying he was locked out of his embassy.
Kyaw Zwar Minn said staff were asked to leave the building by Myanmar’s military attaché on Wednesday night, and he was told he was no longer the country’s representative.
British foreign secretary Dominic Raab has condemned the “bullying actions”.
Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup on 1 February, sparking weeks of protests and escalating violence.
Kyaw Zwar Minn has called for ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to be released.
More than 500 people including dozens of children have been killed so far as pro-democracy protesters demand a return to power of elected leader Ms Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
Kyaw Zwar Minn, the Myanmar s ambassador in London stands outside the Myanmar Embassy whilst a statement is read on his behalf in London, on April 8, 2021. - AP
LONDON (Reuters): Myanmar s ambassador to the United Kingdom, who has been locked out of his embassy by representatives of the military, urged the British government on Thursday (April 8) not to recognise the junta s envoy and to send them back to Myanmar.
In a move that could have implications for Myanmar s diplomats across the world, the ambassador was locked out of his own embassy on Wednesday by his deputy at the behest of the Myanmar military which seized power in February.
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Following a night spent in his car after being locked out of his embassy in London, Myanmar’s ambassador has urged the British government to live up to its declarations on upholding universal democratic values and stand by him.
Ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn requested the Foreign Office to act against the “coup in central London” just as it had condemned the one in Myanmar.
He asked that his deputy, who has taken over the building, should not be recognised as his replacement and be expelled instead, along with other supporters of the military junta which seized power.