Myanmar Ex-Ambassador On Trial
Kyaw Zwar Minn, 68, faces trespassing charges for refusing to leave London diplomatic residence after being locked out in 2021
Kyaw Zwar Minn, the former Myanmar ambassador to the UK, is on trial for trespassing in the diplomatic residence after refusing to leave the property following his removal from office in 2021. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The trouble began when Kyaw Zwar Minn declared his loyalty to the deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, prompting Myanmar's military to lock him out of the embassy. In April 2021, he was instructed by Myanmar's authorities to hand over state-owned properties, including the diplomatic residence.
The Foreign Office also told Kyaw Zwar Minn to leave the residence, but he did not comply. At one point, he spent a night in his car outside the embassy after being locked out by his deputy and a military attache. Kyaw Zwar Minn argues that the current president, Min Aung Hlaing, is illegitimate and had no power to ask him to leave the property.
Min Aung Hlaing, who is wanted by the international criminal court for crimes against humanity, seized power in 2021, triggering mass protests and a civil war. His pro-military party won a landslide victory in recent elections, which have been widely condemned as a sham.
## Why it matters The case highlights the ongoing turmoil in Myanmar, where the military has been in power since 2021. The international community has largely refused to recognize the military government, and Min Aung Hlaing's regime has been accused of numerous human rights abuses. The outcome of Kyaw Zwar Minn's trial could have implications for the diplomatic status of the residence and the legitimacy of the Myanmar government.
Kyaw Zwar Minn's lawyer, David Perry, has argued that the military authorities could not lawfully terminate his client's licence to reside at the diplomatic residence. However, prosecutors argue that Kyaw Zwar Minn's view of the Myanmar government does not provide a defence for his refusal to vacate the property. The trial is ongoing, with Kyaw Zwar Minn facing charges of trespassing at a diplomatic residence between May 2021 and November 2024.
