American politicians lobby US ambassador to UN over support for Myanmar Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun

Mizzima

A number of American politicians have sent a letter on 14 October regarding the UN Credential Committee in support of the Myanmar Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun to allow him to retain his position representing his country at the United Nations.

The supporters include: Bill Huizenga, Co-Chair, Congressional Burma Caucus, Betty McCollum, Co-Chair, Congressional Burma Caucus, Jefferson Shreve, Member of US Congress, Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member House Foreign Affairs Committee, Young Kim, Chairwoman, East Asia and the Pacific, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Ami Bera, M.D., Ranking Member, East Asia and the Pacific, House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The following is their latter to Mike Waltz, Ambassador, United States Mission to the United Nations:

Dear Ambassador Waltz,

We write in advance of the Burmese military junta’s attempt to legitimize its sham electoral process before the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Credentials Committee by replacing the current Permanent Ambassador to the UN for Myanmar, U Kyaw Moe Tun, with a junta-appointed representative. We respectfully urge the United States Mission to the UN to continue supporting the current Permanent Ambassador to the UN for Myanmar and oppose any effort to credential or seat a junta-appointed official.

Even before the most recent 2021 military coup in Burma, the United States has long supported democracy, human rights, and accountability in Burma. Following the coup and during the ongoing civil war, Burma’s representation at the UN has remained unchanged due to the UN Credentials Committee deferment on the question. During this time, Burma’s democratic representatives have been able to engage with the UN on humanitarian access, civilian protection, and atrocity prevention. Any change to that deferral would pose concrete risks to American interests and the United Nations’ integrity.

As you well know, allowing the Burmese junta to align its UN vote and participation with American adversaries, like Iran and China, sends the wrong message abroad. The Burmese junta relies on these principal partners for diplomatic protection, military cooperation, economic support, and access to fuel for airstrikes against its own civilians. Additionally, the most recent electoral process occurred amid armed conflict, mass displacement, repression, detention of political opponents, and the exclusion of major democratic parties. This electoral façade does not change the underlying character of military rule, which continues to exercise power through coercion, violence, and emergency decrees. Nor does the rebranding of military control as civilian governance cure the absence of democratic legitimacy, constitutional authority, or popular consent.

Any such changes to UN representation do not reflect the will of the Burmese people or their democratic aspirations. Credentialing the junta would therefore reward a military regime for seizing power, repressing its population, staging a non-credible electoral process, and deepening reliance on foreign authoritarian backers. Timing is crucial, and the United States is especially well positioned to act.

As a leading UN Member State and a customary member of the Credentials Committee, we urge you to make your intentions clear by engaging early and directly with fellow Committee members, the Office of the President of the General Assembly, and like-minded Member States, to support continued deferral of the competing credentials. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to learning about your strategy to fulfill this request.