Latest news with #Minn
The Star
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
UK charges exiled former envoy with trespass
British police charged Myanmar's former ambassador to the United Kingdom with trespassing on a diplomatic residence in London that he has refused to leave since being ousted for opposing Myanmar's 2021 military coup. Kyaw Zwar Minn was locked out of his embassy a few months after the February 2021 coup and was later replaced by the junta's representatives, after calling for the release of Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Since his protest, praised by the British government at the time, Minn has stayed at the northwest London ambassador's residence, a mansion surrounded by razor wire and CCTV cameras. He has refused to hand it back to the embassy, which he says is now run by representatives of an illegitimate government. London's police said Minn was charged last week with trespassing on a diplomatic premises. He must appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 30, the police said. Minn declined to comment. Britain's Foreign Office and Myanmar's embassy in London did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Britain has urged Minn to leave the residence, citing pressure from the junta, Reuters has previously reported. Chris Gunness of rights group Myanmar Accountability Project urged Britain's attorney general to intervene to stop the case. 'It is clearly not in our national interest to allow a junta which the UK has condemned and sanctioned to take over diplomatic property in London, not least because it undermines Britain's policy of supporting democracy in Myanmar,' he said. — Reuters
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ousted Myanmar envoy charged with trespass in London residence row
Ousted Myanmar envoy charged with trespass in London residence row (Photo: AFP) Myanmar's ex-ambassador to London has been charged with trespass for refusing to leave his ambassadorial residence, police said Wednesday, after he was stripped of his post by the military junta following a 2021 coup. Kyaw Zwar Minn , 66, faces a charge of diplomatic trespass and will appear before a court on May 30, London's Metropolitan Police said. The case comes after diplomats close to the junta in April 2021 seized the embassy in central London. They refused access to Minn, a supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government overthrown by a coup in February that year. Britain's Conservative government at the time indicated it would offer its protection to the ousted ambassador. The then British foreign minister, Dominic Raab, condemned "the bullying actions of the Myanmar military regime in London" and paid tribute to Kyaw Zwar Minn for his "courage". Minn's lawyer said after his client was questioned by police in 2023 that the residence remained the property of the Union of Myanmar. "My client has always maintained that he is more than happy to hand over the keys to a representative of the democratically elected government of Myanmar," he added. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Want Lower Bills Without Changing a Thing? elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo The 2021 coup plunged Myanmar into a conflict that has forced more than a million people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations, with thousands more arrested. Myanmar's relations with the United Kingdom, the former colonial power, have deteriorated sharply since the military seized power. It was not immediately clear if Minn was still living at the residence.
France 24
14-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Ousted Myanmar envoy charged with trespass in London residence row
Kyaw Zwar Minn, 66, faces a charge of diplomatic trespass and will appear before a court on May 30, London's Metropolitan Police said. The case comes after diplomats close to the junta in April 2021 seized the embassy in central London. They refused access to Minn, a supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government overthrown by a coup in February that year. Britain's Conservative government at the time indicated it would offer its protection to the ousted ambassador. The then British foreign minister, Dominic Raab, condemned "the bullying actions of the Myanmar military regime in London" and paid tribute to Kyaw Zwar Minn for his "courage". Minn's lawyer said after his client was questioned by police in 2023 that the residence remained the property of the Union of Myanmar. "My client has always maintained that he is more than happy to hand over the keys to a representative of the democratically elected government of Myanmar," he added. The 2021 coup plunged Myanmar into a conflict that has forced more than a million people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations, with thousands more arrested. Myanmar's relations with the United Kingdom, the former colonial power, have deteriorated sharply since the military seized power. It was not immediately clear if Minn was still living at the residence.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ousted Myanmar envoy charged with trespass in London residence row
Myanmar's ex-ambassador to London has been charged with trespass for refusing to leave his ambassadorial residence, police said Wednesday, after he was stripped of his post by the military junta following a 2021 coup. Kyaw Zwar Minn, 66, faces a charge of diplomatic trespass and will appear before a court on May 30, London's Metropolitan Police said. The case comes after diplomats close to the junta in April 2021 seized the embassy in central London. They refused access to Minn, a supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government overthrown by a coup in February that year. Britain's Conservative government at the time indicated it would offer its protection to the ousted ambassador. The then British foreign minister, Dominic Raab, condemned "the bullying actions of the Myanmar military regime in London" and paid tribute to Kyaw Zwar Minn for his "courage". Minn's lawyer said after his client was questioned by police in 2023 that the residence remained the property of the Union of Myanmar. "My client has always maintained that he is more than happy to hand over the keys to a representative of the democratically elected government of Myanmar," he added. The 2021 coup plunged Myanmar into a conflict that has forced more than a million people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations, with thousands more arrested. Myanmar's relations with the United Kingdom, the former colonial power, have deteriorated sharply since the military seized power. It was not immediately clear if Minn was still living at the residence. har/jkb/jj
