As the United Nations General Assembly began its 81st session, Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the U.N. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun has affirmed his commitment to retain the country’s seat at the headquarters in New York, dismissing ongoing efforts by the regime in Naypyidaw to unseat him and charge him with treason and financial impropriety.
In an interview with DVB following high-level engagements in September, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun outlined his dual mandate since breaking ranks with the regime following the 2021 military coup: blocking military representatives from gaining diplomatic standing at the U.N. and channeling the democratic aspirations of the Myanmar people before the international community.
“I always mention that I have two objectives of being here as a Permanent Representative of Myanmar, especially after the military coup,” Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun told DVB.
“The first objective is to make sure that there is no representation from the military junta here at the United Nations, especially in New York. And then the second objective is to convey the voices of the people of Myanmar, to inform the suffering and the aspirations of the people of Myanmar to the international community through the United Nations.”
Credentials Committee and Financial Operations
The latest U.N. Credentials Committee, established on Sept. 8 for the 81st session, is scheduled to formally review member state credentials in late November or early December.
Naypyidaw has repeatedly attempted to accredit its own appointee, former military attaché Aung Thurein. However, the committee has consistently deferred a formal ruling over the past five years, preserving the status quo and allowing Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun to remain in post.
Addressing a Sept. 12 statement issued by the regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs leveling treason charges and alleging financial misuse of mission funds, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun clarified that operational expenditures have been dramatically slashed and fully recorded.
“When it comes to the financial-related issues, of course I’m prepared, I’m aware of it,” Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun told DVB.
He explained that operating costs for the Permanent Mission were reduced from roughly $160,000–$170,000 USD per month prior to the coup down to approximately $20,000 USD per month currently by removing non-Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) staff from the payroll and minimizing vehicle maintenance and utility expenses.
“All the expenditures, I put everything in record,” he emphasized. “I always mention that my conscience is very clear with regard to the expenditures that I use for the mission… Once the time comes, I will reveal it to the public.”
Demands for international intervention
During committee sessions, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun delivered interventions addressing escalating human rights violations, child rights protections, and recent military air attacks.
He pointed specifically to a Sept. 28 airstrike targeting a market in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, that killed 50 civilians as evidence of ongoing war crimes.
Kyaw Moe Tun expressed deep frustration over the international community’s failure to enforce binding measures under U.N. Security Council Resolution 2669, adopted in December 2022.
“Even though we have the very historic Resolution 2669… it’s not really serving what we want,” Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun told DVB.
“Because what we want is to stop the violence by the military junta, to stop the atrocities committed by the military junta… The statements, the resolution is not enough. We really need tangible, effective actions.”
He reiterated calls for the U.N. Security Council to formally refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and enforce strict targeted sanctions cutting off arms, dual-use technology, financial flows, and aviation fuel shipments to the regime.
“Even a drop of jet fuel is directly killing our people,” he warned.
Looking ahead as the resistance to the 2021 coup and his mandate possibly enters its sixth year, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun urged the international community to align with Myanmar people and not the regime
“Please be sure that you understand the aspirations of the people of Myanmar, you respect the aspirations of the people of Myanmar,” he told DVB.
“Please do help the people of Myanmar for achieving our goal of ending this military dictatorship and building a federal democratic union.”
Stay tuned to DVB English News on YouTube or Spotify for the Newsroom interview with Myanmar’s U.N. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun.
