YANGON — Myanmar’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations in New York, U Tin Maung Naing, has resigned after the military regime assigned him to replace his boss, U Kyaw Moe Tun, who made a courageous speech to the UN General Assembly rejecting the junta and representing the democratically elected government.
On Tuesday, the UN said it received a statement from Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying U Tin Maung Naing had been appointed the interim head of the permanent mission.
The regime dismissed U Kyaw Moe Tun, accusing him of “high treason” for appealing for global help to restore democracy to Myanmar. U Kyaw Moe Tun told the UN that he is still representing Myanmar as he is appointed by the democratically elected government which is still recognized internationally.
The Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), representing elected members of the Union Parliament from the National League for Democracy (NLD), told the UN to recognize U Kyaw Moe Tun as the official envoy of the elected government.
The CRPH also said U Kyaw Moe Tun had been given additional duties to manage foreign and diplomatic affairs for the NLD government, in effect appointing him foreign minister in exile.
The contradictory statements put the UN under pressure to choose between U Kyaw Moe Tun, a national hero, and U Tin Maung Naing, who was initially backed by the military. Thousands of Facebook and Twitter users shared a statement saying Myanmar’s people do not recognize U Tin Maung Naing as their UN representative and only U Kyaw Moe Tun can speak for them.
U Tin Maung Naing posted on Facebook on Wednesday that he was resigning without giving a reason.
The ministry recalled at least 100 diplomatic staff from around 19 countries after U Kyaw Moe Tun condemned the military regime at the UN.
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