27-8-2023 (YANGON) Myanmar’s military junta has ordered the expulsion of Timor-Leste’s top diplomat in the country, accusing the small Southeast Asian nation of “encouraging terrorism” by meeting with a banned shadow administration.
The move comes as tensions continue to escalate in Myanmar, which has been embroiled in a political crisis since the military seized power in February 2021, ousting the elected government and sparking violent clashes.
The National Unity Government (NUG), a shadow administration dominated by exiled lawmakers seeking to overturn the coup, has been designated as a terrorist organization by the military. Timor-Leste’s President Jose Ramos-Horta met with NUG foreign minister Zin Mar Aung in the capital Dili last month, a move that appears to have sparked the junta’s ire.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Timor-Leste’s “irresponsible actions,” ordering the country’s Charge d’Affaires in Yangon to leave Myanmar by September 1, 2023. The ministry accused Timor-Leste of “encouraging the terrorist group to further commit their violations in Myanmar.”
Timor-Leste has condemned the expulsion order, reiterating its support for efforts to restore democracy in Myanmar. In a statement, the country’s government urged the junta to “respect human rights and seek a peaceful and constructive solution to the crisis.”
The development comes as Timor-Leste is set to become the eleventh member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). However, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has warned that the young democracy could reconsider its bid to join the regional bloc if ASEAN fails to persuade Myanmar’s junta to end the conflict.
ASEAN has made little progress in resolving the crisis in Myanmar, with the army largely ignoring a five-point deal aimed at ending the violence. The bloc has also been divided over how to engage with Myanmar’s military, with some members advocating for a more robust approach while others have called for dialogue and engagement.
Linn Thant, an NUG representative based in Prague, condemned the junta’s decision to expel the Timor-Leste diplomat, telling AFP that there was no justification for the move. The whereabouts of the diplomat are currently unclear.
