UK condemns ‘intimidation’ by Burmese military junta against London embassy

The United Kingdom on Thursday condemned the “intimidation” of the Myanmar regime, after a military attaché took control of the Myanmar embassy in London.

“We condemn the acts of intimidation by the Myanmar military regime in London yesterday (Wednesday)”British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab Raab wrote on Twitter.

Myanmar Ambassador to London Kyaw Zwar Minn on Wednesday accused the military attaché of “occupying”, by order of the junta, a diplomatic representation and denying him access.

The military junta called on the ambassador for consultations in March after the diplomat issued a statement calling for the release of fallen Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

“When I left the embassy, ​​they rushed inside and took him. They belong to the Burmese army ”, Kyaw Zwar Minn told the newspaper on Wednesday The Daily Telegraph.

Protesters gathered around the Burmese embassy in London on Wednesday, when it was made public that the ambassador could not enter.

The United Kingdom, a former colonial power, has sanctioned several officials of the military junta, including its leader Min Aung Hlaing, for their role in the February 1 coup that overthrew the Burmese civilian government led by Suu Kyi.

The ambassador denounced a “coup” at the diplomatic headquarters, as he told the ‘The Telegraph’, to whom he explained that they refused to let him pass, because “they received instructions from the capital”, in reference to Naipyidó.

Kyaw Zwar Minn, however, anticipated that “The British government will not allow it”. In this sense, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued that he “was collecting more information after an incident at the Burmese embassy in London,” reports the DPA.

The ambassador, who in March called for the release of the country’s “ de facto ” leader deposed by the coup, Aung San Suu Kyi, and condemned the military coup, for which the regime l ‘has resigned from his post, reports BBC.

On Wednesday night, Kyaw Zwar Minn was seen outside the diplomatic headquarters unsuccessfully ringing the bell, talking to the Metropolitan Police and leaving the surrounding area in a car with a large photo of Suu Kyi in the back of the car. vehicle.

Following the news of the refusal of entry to the ambassador, demonstrators gathered in front of the embassy.

More, Burmese model and actor Paing Takhon arrested on Thursday by military junta accused of inciting violence by publicly demonstrating his support for the demonstrations against the military coup of February 1.

The popular 24-year-old model was arrested early in the morning at her Rangoon home by security forces, her manager Yee Mon Kyaw reported.

“He was very ill at the time, so we couldn’t move him to another location for his safety. Talk about him and pray for his safety ”, the agent said on Facebook.

Paing Takhon, who has participated in protests against the military and has openly shown his support for dissent on social media, is among the list of more than 100 public figures on whom the military junta recently issued a warrant. stop.

The soldiers accuse these personalities, including journalists, of attempting to destabilize the country by posting messages on social networks and of publishing propaganda in favor of the group of elected parliamentarians which describes itself as a “legitimate government”, described as a junta. military.

Paing Takhon, who had 1.2 million Instagram followers before his profile was deleted in the past few hours, is one of the best-known faces in show business who was arrested after the February 1 coup .

On Tuesday, famous Burmese comedian and actor Zarganar, 60, who had previously been a political prisoner under previous military junta governments, was arrested on the same charges.

Despite the brutal repression by the police and the military, in which at least 598 people died according to the Association for the Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP) – including 12 on Wednesday – the demonstrations against the coup that ‘they are suing across the country.

Since the uprising and until Wednesday, the authorities have detained at least 3,577 people, of whom 2,847 are still in custody, including the deposed head of government, Aung San Suu Kyi, notes the AAPP.

The men in uniform justify the coup for alleged electoral fraud in the elections last November, in which Suu Kyi’s party destroyed, as it did in 2015; elections considered legitimate by international observers.

(With information from AFP, Europa Press and EFE)

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