Latest news with #MyanmarAccountabilityProject
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
The Star
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
UK charges exiled Myanmar envoy with trespassing at diplomatic residence
Ex-ambassador of Myanmar to Britain, Kyaw Zwar Minn posing at the diplomatic residence, in London in this file photo from Jan 31, 2023. - Reuters LONDON: 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, Kyaw Zwar 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 Kyaw Zwar Minn was charged last week with trespassing on a diplomatic premises. He must appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 30, the police said. Kyaw Zwar 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 Kyaw Zwar 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. Britain is among several Western countries that have called for democracy to be restored in Myanmar and sanctioned members of Myanmar's military and some of its business interests. Most democratic nations, including Britain, have not formally recognised the junta. But in July 2021, Myanmar's junta appointed a new temporary head of its London embassy, a move which did not require the consent of the British government under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. - Reuters
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK charges exiled Myanmar ambassador with trespassing at diplomatic residence
By Andrew MacAskill LONDON (Reuters) - 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, Kyaw Zwar 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 Kyaw Zwar Minn was charged last week with trespassing on a diplomatic premises. He must appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 30, the police said. Kyaw Zwar 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 Kyaw Zwar 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. Britain is among several Western countries that have called for democracy to be restored in Myanmar and sanctioned members of Myanmar's military and some of its business interests. Most democratic nations, including Britain, have not formally recognised the junta. But in July 2021, Myanmar's junta appointed a new temporary head of its London embassy, a move which did not require the consent of the British government under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Reuters
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
UK charges exiled Myanmar ambassador with trespassing at diplomatic residence
LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) - 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, Kyaw Zwar 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 Kyaw Zwar Minn was charged last week with trespassing on a diplomatic premises. He must appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 30, the police said. Kyaw Zwar 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 Kyaw Zwar 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. Britain is among several Western countries that have called for democracy to be restored in Myanmar and sanctioned members of Myanmar's military and some of its business interests. Most democratic nations, including Britain, have not formally recognised the junta. But in July 2021, Myanmar's junta appointed a new temporary head of its London embassy, a move which did not require the consent of the British government under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Al Jazeera
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Myanmar-Thailand earthquake updates: 1,700 killed, aftershocks cause panic
Update: Date: 18h ago (16:50 GMT) Title: That's a wrap from us Content: Thank you for joining our live coverage of the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck parts of Myanmar and Thailand on Friday. You can continue following the story by reading our up-to-date news piece here. And you can also check out our report from Sagaing, the central Myanmar city closest to the epicentre of the magnitude 7.7 quake, here. We also have a picture gallery from both Myanmar and Thailand here. Update: Date: 18h ago (16:40 GMT) Title: Here's what happened today Content: We'll be closing this live page soon, so let's bring you up to speed with the day's main developments: Update: Date: 18h ago (16:22 GMT) Title: Ethnic armed group criticises Myanmar military government over attacks Content: The Karen National Union, one of Myanmar's oldest ethnic armies, has issued a statement criticising the military government for continuing to carry out air attacks 'targeting civilian areas, even as the population suffers tremendously from the earthquake'. The group said under normal circumstances, the military would be prioritising relief efforts, but instead is focused on 'deploying forces to attack its people'. There was no immediate comment from the military government. This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. End of dialog window. This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Update: Date: 19h ago (16:00 GMT) Title: Calls for Myanmar no-fly zone, humanitarian access Content: Chris Gunness, the director of Myanmar Accountability Project, has accused Myanmar's military government of using 'disproportionate and indiscriminate force against the very people who they say they are trying to assist'. 'This is an utter abomination. Even as the earthquake was striking, junta jets were attacking targets in Sagaing, the very epicentre of the earthquake,' he told Al Jazeera. Gunness urged the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution enforcing an extended humanitarian pause that would explicitly ban the usage of fighter jets, helicopters, motor paragliders and drones. 'There must be a no-fly zone imposed; we cannot see the junta using jets to bomb people,' he said, also calling for humanitarian access across the country and the restoration of telecommunications. 'If we are going to have a proper aid operation, that needs to come to force,' Gunness added, urging the international community to work with local, non-military government groups and ensure their protection. Update: Date: 19h ago (15:45 GMT) Title: Myanmar military government: What to know Content: Myanmar's military government seized power in a 2021 coup, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, ending the country's short-lived experiment with democracy after nearly 50 years of military rule. The military government is now fighting several rebel and ethnic groups across the country, all of whom oppose military rule. Its operations are largely funded through state-controlled businesses and international financial transactions, despite widespread sanctions. Military-controlled entities such as the Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited generate significant revenue for the current government. In addition, the military government has secured substantial arms deals with countries like Russia and China, giving it access to advanced weaponry. Update: Date: 19h ago (15:30 GMT) Title: Military government continues bombing parts of Myanmar Content: Myanmar's military government has continued to carry out attacks, even as Myanmar's main rebel movement announced a unilateral partial ceasefire to aid rescue efforts following the devastating earthquake. Air attacks have been reported on Pauk township in the country's northwest. Military forces also attacked Bhamo, in Kachin state, which borders China. As we've been reporting, Myanmar has faced widespread conflict since the 2021 military coup, with ethnic rebel groups fighting the military government. Update: Date: 19h ago (15:15 GMT) Title: 'We tried everything to save her' Content: We have some more information about Mathu Thu Lwin, the pregnant woman who was pronounced dead shortly after being pulled from a collapsed apartment block in Mandalay. Rescuers had to amputate the 35-year-old's leg in order to be able to release her after more than two days of entrapment in the wreckage of the Sky Villa Condominium. Chinese and Myanmar rescuers used a drill, a chainsaw and rotary saws to penetrate the concrete trapping her. She was eventually brought out soon after 8pm (02:30 GMT) and doctors examined her, performing CPR on a gurney, but she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. 'We tried everything to save her,' AFP quoted one of the medical team members as saying. Mathu Thu Lwin lost too much blood during the leg amputation to survive, and a makeshift operating theatre that had been prepared in an outbuilding to stabilise her went unused. Update: Date: 20h ago (15:00 GMT) Title: Photos: Search operation continues as night falls in Bangkok Content: Update: Date: 20h ago (14:45 GMT) Title: Pregnant woman trapped in Mandalay building pronounced dead after being freed Content: We have a regrettable update about the effort to save the pregnant woman who was under the wreckage of the Sky Villa apartment complex in Myanmar's second city of Mandalay. AFP is reporting that its journalists at the scene saw that Mathu Thu Lwin was pronounced dead shortly after she was freed after more than 55 hours under the rubble. Rescuers thought they had saved the life of the 35-year-old but they were unable to resuscitate her after extracting her from the ruins. Update: Date: 20h ago (14:30 GMT) Title: US pledges $2m in aid for quake-affected communities Content: The United States Embassy in Myanmar has issued a statement saying the US government will provide up to $2m 'through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations' to support communities affected by the earthquake. It added that an emergency response team from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which is underergoing massive cuts under the administration of US President Donald Trump, is deploying to Myanmar 'to identify the people's most pressing needs, including emergency shelter, food, medical needs, and access to water'. 'The United States stands with the people of Myanmar as they work to recover from the devastation. We offer our deepest condolences for the loss of life and infrastructure in this difficult time,' the statement concluded.
