LONDON – Myanmar’s army has also been plagued by mass demonstrations, global condemnation and sanctions since the February rule, and a quieter protest by the country’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.
So they excluded him on Wednesday.
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Ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn, who was standing by, wearing sneakers on and waiting for his car in the luxury Mayfair area of London, told reporters he was locked outside the embassy by his deputy after refusing to To obey Myanmar’s military junta.
“This is a kind of coup in central London,” he told Reuters. “You can see they’re occupying my building.”
British police stood guard outside the South Asian country’s embassy as a handful of protesters gathered against the coup and the deadly repression of the army in the street outside.
Kyaw Zwar Minn, who took on the role in the British capital in 2013 and previously served in France, later issued a statement urging the British government not to recognize or work on a replacement.
“The ambassador has been recalled by the military regime in Myanmar – since then he has stopped following instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Myanmar,” he said through his spokesman.
“We believe that the British Government will not support those who work for the military junta, and we also want to urge the British Government to send them back,” the ambassador said.
Kyaw Zwar Minn ranks broken and appealed to elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi to be released in a statement on March 8, with the United Kingdom praising the ambassador for his “courage and patriotism.”
In a letter to the British Foreign Office from the Myanmar embassy, seen by Reuters, those in charge of the embassy said that Kyaw Zwar Minn was recalled on March 9. Deputy Ambassador Chit Win took over the reins on 7 April. , reads the letter.
The UK said on Thursday that it would no longer recognize Kyaw Zwar Minn as ambassador, in accordance with the protocol, now that the junta has issued a formal notice to the British authorities about its removal.
NBC News has not confirmed the existence of the letter.
NBC News did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the London embassy in Myanmar or the country’s foreign ministry.
Like the United States, Britain has approved members of the Myanmar army and some of its business interests following the coup.
“We condemn yesterday the bullying of the Myanmar military regime in London, and I pay tribute to Kyaw Zwar Minn for his courage,” said the British Foreign Secretary. Dominic Raab tweeted on Thursday. “The United Kingdom continues to put an end to the coup and the rampant violence, and to a speedy recovery of democracy.”
On February 1, the army took over from the elected government of Suu Kyi, who is currently in custody on various charges.
The junta claims there are irregularities in the menu for the November election last year, which Suu Kyi’s National Alliance for Democracy Party won in a rush.
The country’s ambassador to the United Nations was fired in February after delivering an emotional speech in New York in which he declared his loyalty to the ousted civilian government and called on the world not to put pressure on the military. do not like.
The UN, which condemned the coup, said last month that its special envoy would make efforts to visit the country in the coming weeks.
Anti-coup protesters continued to protest in Myanmar despite deadly repression by security forces.
According to the human rights group, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, the death toll has risen in recent weeks as clashes escalate, with more than 600 civilians, including many children killed since the junta came to power.
At least 11 protesters were killed on Thursday, local media reported.
In a speech to soldiers held in the state media on Sunday, senior gen. Few. Aung Hlaing said security forces exercise the greatest control over armed rioters who have caused violence and anarchy.
The junta also announced warrants for more than 60 celebrities, social media influencers, models and musicians in Myanmar over the weekend on charges of incitement.
Reuters and Matteo Moschella contributed.