Mizzima – A high-level Burmese career diplomat in the United States, Kyaw Win, the deputy chief of mission, on Monday defected to seek political asylum in the United States, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA).
“Despite the general elections in Burma, the army still controls and influences the country, and there is no sign of democratic changes under the existing government,” Kyaw Win said in an interview conducted by RFA Burmese.
“I do not trust the Burmese government,” Kyaw Win, 59, who served has served in Foreign Department since 1980. He worked had worked at the Burmese Embassy in Washington since March 2008.
“I supported the US sanctions against Burmese military leaders and their cronies and the sanctions can be fruitful. The US should push to form an international commission of inquiry to investigate the human rights violations in Burma,” Kyaw Win told RFA. On the other hand, he also said he supported the new US policy of forging closer contacts with the Burmese government.
Kyaw Win has served at Burmese embassies in Spain, Switzerland, India and Brazil. In 2005, another Burmese diplomat, Aung Lin Htut, sought political asylum in the US.
