A conflict over who represents Myanmar at the United Nations intensified on Tuesday with the possibility that the country’s ambassador would clash with an MP appointed by the military junta to replace him.
In a United Nations drama, officials couldn’t rule out the possibility that Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, who is now an anti-junta celebrity, would have trouble taking the same seat as U Tin Maung Naing, the MP who, according to the junta, is now Myanmar’s voice on the global body is.
“I mean let’s be honest here. We are in a unique situation that we have not seen in a long time, ”Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for General Secretary António Guterres, told reporters. “We’re trying to clear all legal protocols and other implications.”
Diplomatic tensions at United Nations Headquarters in New York came as the junta’s armed forces became increasingly violent in the months of military takeover, ordering deadly raids on protesters and the arrest of journalists covering the demonstrations. Authorities charged Associated Press journalist Thein Zaw and five other members of the news media with violating a public order law that could imprison them for up to three years, the AP reported Tuesday.
The junta sacked Mr Kyaw Moe Tun on Saturday, the day after he embarrassed the generals during an emotional General Assembly speech denouncing them for their February 1 coup and the detention of civilian leaders, asking other countries to leave help, and picked up the three-finger salute, a symbol of anti-junta resistance borrowed from “The Hunger Games” films.
Ambassadors from many countries, including the United States, have come together in his defense. The new American Ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told reporters Monday that she was “extremely moved” by the speech given by the Ambassador’s General Assembly to Myanmar.
“I think we were all surprised,” she said. “Neither of us expected to hear that. And I recommend him for his bravery. I recommend him for his compassion. And I send words of support to him and the people of Myanmar. “
On Tuesday, the spokesman, Mr. Dujarric, confirmed a Reuters report that Mr. Kyaw Moe Tun had sent a letter to the President of the General Assembly and to Mr. Guterres informing them “that he will remain Myanmar’s permanent representative to the United Nations . ”
But Mr. Dujarric also said he had received a “verbal note” or an unsigned diplomatic note from the Myanmar Foreign Ministry saying that the country had “ended the duties and responsibilities of Mr. Kyaw Moe Tun as Myanmar’s permanent representative” and this Done appointed Mr. Tin Maung Naing, the deputy permanent representative, as chargé d’affaires.
Mr Dujarric acknowledged that both diplomats “can come into the building” and that whoever is recognized as representing Myanmar “will be a problem for Member States”.
Questions and disputes about who represents a country at the United Nations fall to the Accreditation Committee, a nine-member body of the General Assembly currently chaired by Kennedy Godfrey Gastorn, Ambassador from Tanzania. He did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
Phone and email messages for Mr. Kyaw Moe Tun and Mr. Tin Maung Naing were not returned immediately.
Pressure has increased on the United Nations Security Council to take action against the coup in Myanmar and the repression of demonstrators. Ms. Thomas-Greenfield, the March council president, told reporters Monday that she was planning discussions on Myanmar “sooner rather than later.”
In a signal that the Biden government is placing more emphasis on Mr. Kyaw Moe Tun, Ms. Thomas-Greenfield held a virtual meeting with him on Tuesday afternoon and expressed her support for the “restoration of the democratically elected government” to the US Mission The United Nations said in a statement emailed.
