Myanmar junta ousts UN ambassador for condemning the coup

The Myanmar junta has expelled the country's ambassador to the UN, Kyaw Moe Tun, state television MRTV announced on Saturday after he called for strong action in the UN General Assembly against the military coup in the country.

The military regime stated that Kyaw Moe Tun had betrayed the country and abused the ambassador's authority and responsibilities. The military coup took over Myanmar on February 1, overthrowing government leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, which led to a nationwide uprising against the military action. Security forces have been trying to suppress anti-coup protests by arresting and gunning several protestors, local media reported.

While desperately addressing the current situation, Kyaw Moe Tun urged the UN to take action against the military and restore the democracy in Myanmar. He also requested all the member states to issue public statements strongly condemning the forced takeover.

UN special envoy Christine Schraner Burgener also condemned the military coup in Myanmar and urged the Ambassadors to stand together to support democracy during the meeting.

Meanwhile, several other UN human rights experts addressed the crisis and warned the military to refrain from using force against peaceful protests and stop using live bullets against protestors.

"The progress of the last decade on democratisation, human rights and the existing dialogue processes initiated with minorities and indigenous peoples, albeit small, must not be lost," the experts stated in a UN press statement.