US ends temporary legal status for Myanmar nationals; National Unity Government begins investigation

National Unity Government begins investigation

The National Unity Government (NUG) stated on Monday that it has temporarily suspended its Prime Minister Office’s Permanent Secretary Kyi Pyar and is investigating her and her husband for alleged corruption and financial fraud. A total of 19 NUG Prime Minister’s Office staff filed the complaint against Kyi Pyar, via email, on Nov. 19. 

“The complainants [Kyi Pyar and her husband] have been temporarily suspended from duty since November 22 while the necessary investigation into the complaints is being conducted,” according to the NUG on Nov. 24. Kyi Par responded denying all accusations made against her by her former staff.

The 19 staff who filed the complaint against Kyi Pyar resigned from their duties on Nov. 19. Their complaint was sent to the NUG Acting President Duwa Lashi La, Prime Minister Mahn Winn Khaing Thann, and Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) Chairperson Aung Kyi Nyunt. The NUG ordered the investigation into Kyi Pyar on Nov. 22.

US ends temporary legal status for Myanmar nationals

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that it is ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for citizens of Burma, arguing they can safely return home with the regime’s 2025-26 elections as evidence of an improving situation. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem had conferred with U.S. government agencies and concluded that temporary status for Burma citizens in the U.S. was no longer needed.

“By revoking temporary protected status for Burmese residing in the U.S. without U.S. citizenship, and asserting that it is safe for them to return to military controlled Myanmar in the middle of a civil war, If [this] order is carried out, [Noem] will literally be sending them back to prisons, brutal torture, and death in Myanmar,” said Phil Robertson, the director of Asia Human Rights & Labour Advocates (AHRLA).