United Nations blocks Myanmar military taking UN seat

Al Jazeera:

A top United Nations committee has again blocked Myanmar’s military, which grabbed power in a February 2021 coup, from taking the country’s seat at the UN, according to diplomats and Myanmar rights groups.

The body’s General Assembly’s credentials committee deferred action on the military’s request to take over the seat, two diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Associated Press news agency.

The Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP) said in a statement it had also learned from diplomats that the committee, which began meeting on November 29, had rejected the generals’ bid for representation.

MAP Director Chris Gunness said the action was an “important move which has great diplomatic and symbolic significance, at a time when the illegal coup leaders are attempting to gain international recognition”.

A formal announcement is expected on Friday.

The decision means that Kyaw Moe Tun, who was appointed Myanmar’s UN ambassador by the elected government of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, will continue to hold the post.