Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations, U Kyaw Moe Tun, says the US authorities have stepped up his security after he received a threat.
Since the coup in February, U Kyaw Moe Tun has represented Myanmar’s National Unity Government formed by lawmakers from the ousted government and ethnic minority representatives.
The military regime tried to replace him but he remains the official envoy because the United Nations is yet to acknowledge the junta.
U Kyaw Moe Tun has ignored the military’s claims that he no longer represents Myanmar in New York.
Myanmar’s junta-controlled television announced in February that U Kyaw Moe Tun had been fired for betraying the country after he urged countries to use “any means necessary” to reverse the military takeover.
“Reportedly there is some threat. The police are working on it. Necessary security has been provided by the police,” U Kyaw Moe Tun, who lives in New York, told Reuters.
He was made aware of the threat on Tuesday.
No details were available.
A State Department spokesperson said: “We do not discuss details of our protective operations.”
A significant number of expats from Myanmar live in New York. There were unconfirmed reports of a city resident from Myanmar being approached by the regime.
“The police and the security authorities in New York are working on it,” the ambassador added.
Diplomats expect a showdown next month at the United Nations over U Kyaw Moe Tun’s status at the 193-member body.
The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, which was formed in exile across the Thai border in December 1990, suffered from disappearances and murders.
Two of its ministers, U Win Ko and U Hla Pe, disappeared separately in 1992 and were found murdered the next year.
U Hla Pe was murdered in Bangkok. U Win Ko’s body was found in a hotel room in southern China. No one claimed responsibility for the deaths.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the February coup, with the regime killing more than 900 people, according to human rights groups.
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