Urge International Denial of Myanmar Ambassador Termination and Provide Protection Visas

Global Leaders

Urge International Denial of Myanmar Ambassador Termination and Provide Protection Visas

On April 07, 2021, the Myanmar Embassy in the UK, London was seized by the Myanmar military attaché while Ambassador U Kyaw Zwar Minn was out of the embassy. This situation forced the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) into a tough position as to whether or not to accept the termination;doing so would mean recognising the State Administration Council (SAC) as the government of Myanmar. On April 08, 2021, the FCDO released an ambiguous statement that implied its recognition of the termination of Ambassador U Kyaw Zwar Minn and that did not properly deal with the situation. This has created a dangerous precedent in which the junta will be emboldened to do the same in other countries where diplomatic staff have not demonstrated their allegiance to it. This has also created an alarming situation among the Burmese diaspora and the Myanmar citizens living in the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark as the embassy in London is responsible for all of these countries.

While the UK government has condemned the coup and imposed some of the much-needed sanctions, additional immediate action is required from the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark to reverse the dangerous precedent set by the UK’s response and to ensure the safety of the Myanmar citizens residing in these countries by taking the following measures:

1. International Denial of the Myanmar Ambassador to the UK Termination, as notified by the SAC

2. Declaration of the non-recognition, but engagement if necessary, with any military diplomat appointed by the SAC for the Myanmar Embassies around the world

3. Prioritise issuing of protection visas for Myanmar citizens who require the passport and/or visa extension

This Open Letter is addressed to the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, the UK Minister of State for Asia Nigel Adams, the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, Ireland Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, Sweden Minister of the Interior Mikael Damberg, and Denmark Minister of the Interior Kaare Dybvad to advocate these three measures on a national and international level. The UK represented by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Minister of State for Asian Nigel Adams, Home Secretary Priti Patel, Ireland represented by Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, Sweden represented by Minister of the Interior Mikael Damberg, Denmark represented by the Minister of the Interior Kaare Dybvad must campaign for the aforementioned measures against the military junta in order to prevent legitimization of the SAC and to effectively support and ensure the safety of Myanmar citizens residing in the respective countries.

To: Global Leaders
From: [Your Name]

We write to you today to express the concerns of Myanmar citizens residing in the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark, regarding the seizure of the Myanmar Embassy in London by the military attaché on the 7th of April 2021, while Ambassador U Kyaw Zwar Minn was out of the embassy. In short, we are requesting you to not recognise any formal notification given by the State Administration Council (SAC) formed by the military junta, specifically the termination of Ambassador U Kyaw Zwar Minn, and to refuse recognition of any military diplomats abroad. In this letter, we will express what the Global Movement for Myanmar Democracy urges you to advocate for on behalf of the international community and Burmese people residing in the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark.

On April 07, 2021, the Myanmar Embassy in the UK, London was seized by the Myanmar military attaché while Ambassador U Kyaw Zwar Minn was out of the office. This situation forced the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) into a tough position as to whether or not to accept the termination; doing so would mean recognising the State Administration Council (SAC) as the government of Myanmar. On April 08, 2021, the FCDO released an ambiguous statement that implied its recognition of the termination of Ambassador U Kyaw Zwar Minn and that did not properly deal with the situation. This has created a dangerous precedent in which the junta will be emboldened to do the same in other countries where diplomatic staff have not demonstrated their allegiance to it. This has also created a worrying situation among the Burmese diaspora and the Myanmar citizens living in the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark as the embassy in London is responsible for all of these countries.

This is why we implore you today to advocate for:

1. International Denial of Myanmar Ambassador to the UK Termination, as notified by the SAC

2. Declaration of the non-recognition, but engagement if necessary, with any military diplomat appointed by the SAC for the Myanmar Embassies around the world

3. Prioritise issuing of protection visas for Myanmar citizens who require the passport and/or visa extension

In solidarity with the people in Myanmar, and in the interests of international peace, we urge you to take the aforementioned actions against the military junta, we urge you to ensure the safety of Myanmar citizens residing in your country, and to stand with the thousands of Burmese citizens who are risking their lives every day to protest for their human rights and their liberty.