British police have charged former Myanmar Ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn for refusing to leave his diplomatic residence in London, according to Reuters news agency. The military council removed Kyaw Zwar Minn from his position as ambassador several months after the military coup. His removal came after he called for the release of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, after which the military council replaced him with a new ambassador.
Kyaw Zwar Minn refused to hand over the ambassador’s residence in London to the military council’s embassy, stating that the military council is illegitimate. British police have charged him with violating diplomatic territory and he is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 30. The British police have urged Kyaw Zwar Minn to vacate the ambassador’s residence due to pressure from the military council.
Chris Gunness from the Myanmar Accountability Project has called on the British Attorney General to drop the charges against the former ambassador. The United Kingdom is among the Western nations supporting Myanmar’s democracy and has imposed economic sanctions against the military council and its associates. Kyaw Zwar Minn stands as a prominent figure opposing the military dictatorship and advocating for democracy.
