19-8-2023 (LONDON) British police are conducting an investigation into Kyaw Zwar Minn, Myanmar’s former ambassador to the United Kingdom, over allegations of trespassing on a diplomatic residence in London, according to his lawyer who informed Reuters.
Kyaw Zwar Minn was locked out of the Myanmar embassy a few months after the military coup in February 2021 and subsequently replaced by representatives of the junta. His expulsion came after he called for the release of Myanmar’s civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
Since his eviction, Kyaw Zwar Minn has remained at the northwest London ambassador’s residence, a sprawling mansion surrounded by razor wire and CCTV cameras. He has steadfastly refused to surrender the property to the embassy, which he claims is now under the control of representatives of an illegitimate government.
The British government had previously encouraged Kyaw Zwar Minn to vacate the residence, citing pressure from the junta.
This week, Kyaw Zwar Minn was interviewed by the police regarding “an allegation that he trespassed on diplomatic premises,” as stated by Neil Swift, his London-based lawyer from Peters & Peters. Trespassing on diplomatic premises carries a potential penalty of up to six months in prison, a fine, or both.
Swift clarified, “The ambassadorial residence remains the property of the Union of Myanmar, and my client has consistently expressed his willingness to hand over the keys to a representative of Myanmar’s democratically elected government if they request it.”
As of now, there have been no charges filed, and the attorney general of Britain will need to determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed with charges.
If charges are brought, the case could become politically charged, given Britain’s previous support for Kyaw Zwar Minn and the sanctions imposed on the junta since the coup. The junta’s violent crackdown on its opponents has triggered a resistance movement fighting the military on multiple fronts.
Chris Gunness of the Myanmar Accountability Project commented, “It is inconceivable that the British authorities, who have condemned the coup and imposed economic sanctions on the generals, would permit this move by an illegal junta.”
Britain is among several Western countries that have called for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar and have imposed sanctions on members of Myanmar’s military and certain business interests.
Following the coup, deposed Myanmar politicians who managed to evade arrest, along with other pro-democracy allies, established the National Unity Government (NUG), a parallel administration aligned with Aung San Suu Kyi. However, most democratic nations, including Britain, have not formally recognized either the NUG or the junta.
In July 2021, Myanmar’s junta appointed a new temporary head for its London embassy, a move that did not require the consent of the British government under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
