The military junta and the envoy sent by its toppled civilian government have launched contradictory claims over who represents the country at the United Nations, officials said.
Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun spectacularly broke with the junta before the General Assembly on Friday in an emotional plea for help to restore ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The next day, the junta said the envoy had been sacked, but on Monday, Kyaw Moe Tun sent a letter to the president of the UN General Assembly to say that he still holds the post.
“The perpetrators of the unlawful coup... have no authority to countermand the legitimate authority of the president of my country, ” said the letter, referring to Suu Kyi.
“I wish therefore to confirm to you that I remain Myanmar’s permanent representative to the United Nations, ” he added.
On Tuesday, Myanmar’s foreign ministry sent a note verbale to the UN, claiming Kyaw Moe Tun had been removed.
“The ministry of foreign affairs... has the honour to inform that the state administration council of the republic of the Union of Myanmar terminated the duties of ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, ” the note said. — AFP
