Kyaw Moe Tun

Kyaw Moe Tun with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in October 2021

In February 2021, after the Tatmadaw (Burmese military) seized power in a coup d'état and deposed the democratically elected government, Tun made a speech at the UN General Assembly on 26 February 2021, appealing for international action against the military regime. He said, "We need further strongest possible action from the international community to immediately end the military coup, to stop oppressing the innocent people, to return the state power to the people and to restore the democracy."[10]

He was subsequently fired from his position by the military regime. Kyaw Moe Tun stated his intention to continue to represent the democratically elected government of Myanmar, whose officials had either been exiled, imprisoned, or gone underground.[11][12] On 1 March 2021, he sent letters to the General Assembly president and UN Secretary-General António Guterres saying he represents the country's legitimate government and remains Myanmar's ambassador. The next day, the military regime named his deputy, Tin Maung Naing, as the new chargé d'affaires in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Guterres. The two competing letters of appointment went to the UN General Assembly Credentials Committee, and Tin Maung Naing resigned the following day.[13] The United States and its ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, recognize Tun as the legitimate representative of Myanmar in the UN.[14]

On 9 April 2021, he again condemned the junta and urged the international community for intervention and the implementation of a no-fly zone over Myanmar. He also regretted what he called "lack of action" of the UN Security Council.[15]

In March 2021, the military regime charged Tun with "high treason" for accepting the appointment of Myanmar Representative to the United Nations from the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (National Assembly)'s National Unity Government of Myanmar, the civilian government-in-exile.[16][17] In addition to serving as ambassador to the UN, The Irrawaddy reported that the committee had given Tun "additional duties to manage foreign and diplomatic affairs for the NLD government, in effect appointing him foreign minister in exile."[13]

In August 2021, two Burmese citizens were arrested and charged by U.S. federal authorities of involvement in a plot to assassinate Tun. The two men were charged with conspiring with a Thai arms dealer to "seriously injure or kill" Tun in an attack on the ambassador in his Westchester County, New York home.[18]

In September 2021, in the leadup to the 76th session of the General Assembly, the UN had been expected to make a formal decision on recognizing the legitimate government of Myanmar.[19] A behind-the-scenes compromise between the US and China, prevented the Burmese military's representatives from attending the session, effectively forestalling a decision to replace Kyaw Moe Tun.[19][20] In December 2021, the General Assembly's Credentials Committee deferred consideration of the credentials of the ambassadors, effectively rejecting an attempt by Myanmar's rulers to replace Tun.[21]

In the 2022 special session of the General Assembly, Tun as Burmese ambassador to the UN, cast his country's vote in favor of Resolution ES-11/1, condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. This vote was the opposite stance from the Myanmar military regime, which supports Russia.[22]