Myanmar’s military regime has renewed its campaign to replace the country’s opposition-aligned United Nations ambassador, a move advocacy groups claim would further silence critics within the war-scarred country and add to regional instability.
As the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly meets, a committee of nine nations will decide if Kyaw Moe Tun will remain in the position, a decision which has been deferred since the violent takeover and ensuing armed conflict. The diplomat was appointed to the seat in 2020, a year before the military coup, and retained his position due to a consensus between China and the US.
“His removal would not only silence the voices of Myanmar’s people at the UN but would also lend false legitimacy to an illegal, brutal junta responsible for countless mass atrocities against the country’s population,” said Khin Ohmar, chairperson for Progressive Voice, a Myanmar-focused advocacy group.
“If this junta — now hiding behind a post-sham-election civilian facade — were to be recognised by the Credentials Committee of the UN, it would fully utilise such international recognition to intensify its terror campaign.”
Pro-democracy networks have begun a coordinated campaign to retain Myanmar’s permanent representative to the United Nations, however, his position is in doubt, as the country’s regime engages in a diplomatic blitz to remove him. It follows elections earlier this year that were widely criticised, with the Australian government characterising them as not meeting the conditions for a free, fair and inclusive vote.
The millions of displaced people, humanitarian crisis, regional instability and security issues will rise even further.
Saw Lwin Oo, National President of the Australian Karen Organisation
In June this year, regime leader Min Aung Hlaing made a state visit to China where he met with President Xi Jinping, after which China signalled its diplomatic repositioning by announcing support for its Southeast Asian neighbour to enjoy “full, equal, and constructive participation” at the UN.
As these diplomatic adjustments occur, the toll of the conflict is also shifting, with UN investigators recording continued attacks on civilians by the regime between July 2025 and June 2026, including airstrikes, torture and sexual violence. Investigators also found armed groups had participated in crimes against humanity.
These contrasting dynamics have advocates concerned a change at the UN would further worsen the situation in the country, while other experts are questioning the withdrawal of international pressure.
“China’s actions over Myanmar have been little more than the exercise of myopic self-interest and cynicism,” said Sean Turnell, former economic advisor to Aung San Suu Kyi. “But they are powerful, and do not hesitate to throw their weight around.”
Global diaspora groups have staged demonstrations outside the UN building in New York City and, in Australia, at Martin Place in Sydney, hoping to drive support for Kyaw Moe Tun and keep the nation’s democracy movement on the agenda.
Attendees used Facebook to coordinate demonstrations and stream the message across the world. Photo: Hugh Phillips
National President of the Australian Karen Organisation Saw Lwin Oo said he hopes the message of global solidarity reaches the Credentials Committee.
“Global Myanmar diaspora come together and collaborate to send a clear message that the people of Myanmar chose their leaders through democratic elections and the legitimate representatives must continue to be able to speak for us,” he said.
“Australian groups are part of the global organising group of this global campaign, arranging letter campaigns, rallies and advocacy in various places,” he added, while asserting the people of Myanmar would be the most impacted by a change.
“The millions of displaced people, humanitarian crisis, regional instability and security issues will rise even further. Domestic violence and civilian threats will escalate. Democracy and federalism will be silenced.”
Kyaw Moe Tun has been a diplomatic thorn for the regime. In the weeks following the coup, he spoke out and called on the international community to “take any means necessary to take action against the Myanmar military”. Following the address, the Junta issued a statement saying he had been stood down and accused him of committing an “act of high treason”, but his position in the UN cannot be revoked by the junta without the consensus or formal acceptance of the UN Credentials Committee.
Turnell said Kyaw Moe Tun had been a sign of hope for Myanmar since the coup.
“He could have so easily just gone along with the incoming regime, and would have been richly rewarded for it,” he added. “Instead he chose not to do what was easy. He’s a man of incredible moral integrity.
“His courage denied the regime international legitimacy and the use of the machinery of the UN in asserting this: And, in being a critical rallying figure for the resistance.”
Advocates view the position at the UN as one of the regime’s last hurdles to justify normalised relations with the international community.
“He has denied the Myanmar military the legitimacy they seek, of holding this most senior diplomatic role,” said Burma Campaign UK director Mark Farmaner.
“It has been a humiliation for the Myanmar military, which is why they are throwing a huge amount of diplomatic and public propaganda efforts into trying to secure the removal of Kyaw Moe Tun.”
As a consequence of his views, Kyaw Moe Tun has faced a campaign by the regime involving everything from attempts to have him arrested by INTERPOL to an alleged foiled assassination plot with military links.
Kyaw Moe Tun speaking at the OPCWin 2018. Photo: OPCW
On September 13, Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the representative for acting on behalf of “unlawful associations”.
“In light of Kyaw Moe Tun’s activities, including misuse of government funds and state-owned property, communications and activities with unlawful organisations, and use of the United Nations platform to propagate one-sided accusations as instructed by the opposition, questions have arisen about his personal credibility and his authority to represent Myanmar,” the statement read.
Since the conclusion of the regime’s elections in January, in which the military proxy Union and Solidarity Development Party claimed a decisive victory and opposition parties were barred from participating, regional neighbours have begun extending diplomatic courtesy to Myanmar.
In August this year, Min Aung Hlaing visited Thailand for an official bilateral meeting, the first since the coup. The day after meetings had ended, the regime issued a statement claiming disappointment over calls for the release of jailed leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The requests had been made by the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, a position established by the regional body to support a peace plan for the country, and agreed to by Min Aung Hlaing. This plan, known as the Five-Point consensus, included provisions such as the “immediate cessation of violence”. The August 8 statement said: “Myanmar is of the view that the appointment and the continued role of the new Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair are no longer necessary.”
It would do little for the underlying war that will, in the end, be the decisive theatre.
Sean Turnell, former economic advisor to Aung San Suu Kyi
“There is a real danger that Kyaw Moe Tun will be removed as representative for Myanmar, not just because powerful countries like China, India and Russia are backing the military, but also because countries which call themselves allies of the democracy movement are doing very little to prevent it happening,” said Farmaner.
“For regional countries, supporting the Myanmar military regime is an act of self-harm, because the Myanmar military are the reason there has been conflict, instability, and underdevelopment in Myanmar for decades.”
However, Turnell did not think a junta representative at the UN General Assembly would necessarily be a fatal blow for resistance forces.
“It would do little for the underlying war that will, in the end, be the decisive theatre,” he said. “So, a blow, but not in my view an existential one for Myanmar’s resistance.”
Main photo by Hugh Phillips.
