Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations, a critic of the country’s six-month-old military regime, has been put under heightened security following a threat made against him by an unknown organization, RFA has learned.
Kyaw Moe Tun, who had previously represented Myanmar’s civilian-led government which was overthrown in a Feb. 1 military coup, now represents the country’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG), formed in opposition to the junta.
Details of the threat made against him are still unclear, Kyaw Moe Tun told RFA on Thursday in an interview.
“At this point I can’t share any information with you in detail, because this is an ongoing security-related matter,” the Myanmar ambassador said.
“U.S. security agents have not given out any comments to journalists yet. I hope you understand," he added.
Kyaw Moe Tun learned of the threat made against him on Tuesday and immediately reported it to police, the ambassador told the Reuters news service, and a Myanmar national present in the U.S. on a visitor’s visa is now being held for questioning by police and U.S. officials.
Myanmar’s military regime has tried to replace Kyaw Moe Tun as the country’s ambassador to the U.N., but he remains in his post because the U.N. has not recognized Myanmar’s military junta as the country’s legitimate government, according to an Aug. 5 report by The Irrawaddy.
Requests to the U.S. State Department for comment on Thursday received no immediate response. Attempts to reach spokespersons for Myanmar’s military rulers for comment also went unanswered.
Reported by RFA’s Myanmar Service. Translated by Kyaw Min Htun. Written in English by Richard Finney.
