On February 1, the military took power in Myanmar (formerly Burma). And orders critical diplomats home. But: Many don’t even think about it – including diplomatic representatives in Switzerland.
Eleven diplomats from Myanmar, who are stationed in the USA and Switzerland, have come to an agreement. They refuse to leave in protest against the military coup – and want to stay in their host countries. Kyaw Moe Tun (51), Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations in New York, told the Japanese news website on Monday Kyodo News.
Diplomats in Geneva also refuse
He himself doesn’t even think about leaving. “The military has already charged me with high treason … So I definitely cannot go back to Myanmar,” said the envoy, who has sharply criticized the violent regime since the coup.
The regime critic said four diplomats in Washington and three other envoys in Los Angeles would apply for “temporary protected status” – a status that protects against deportation and facilitates access to a work permit. According to the ambassador, four Burmese diplomats in Geneva are also asking the authorities to be allowed to stay in Switzerland.
At least 20 diplomats openly revolt
According to Ambassador Tun, the eleven diplomats belong to a larger group of around 20 diplomats from a total of seven countries (in addition to the USA and Switzerland: Canada, France, Germany, Israel and Japan) who have joined the democracy movement and are refusing to give the order to return home . The “Japan Times” even reported in May that the rebel group comprised around 100 diplomats.
The reason for Tun’s disclosure interview: Myanmar’s national goalkeeper Pyae Lyan (26) asked for asylum in Japan last week. The football player fears for his life because he made the three-finger salute during a game in May in protest against the coup.
Ambassador Tun also uses the “three-finger greeting” – a symbol of resistance taken from the book and film series “Hunger Games” (original title: Hunger Games). (kin)