In an exclusive interview, Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, the Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations, talked to Mizzima about the ongoing works of the Credentials Committee in relation to Myanmar, and his work on conveying the concerns of Myanmar people about grave human rights violations by the junta regime to the international community.

Mizzima: The 76th session of the UN General Assembly is taking place in New York beginning 14 September. His Excellency is also joining the meetings there. My first question is which meetings are you taking part and which topics have you discussed at the events?

Ambassador: You all already have known that the closing ceremony of the 75th session of UNGA was held on 14 September afternoon. The opening session of the 76th session of UNGA was held the same afternoon, forming the Credentials Committee with 9 member countries. Seats for member countries were normally re-arranged in each session.

For the 76th session, Suriname was selected to occupy the first seat. Ordinarily, the seating order is arranged through draws. After Suriname, the seating order follows the English alphabetical order of country names.

It is valid for the whole session and also applies to the formal meetings of the Main Committees.

During the 75th session, the first seat was occupied by the delegation from the country started with English alphabetic I (Iceland), and Myanmar took the seat in the third role. This year started with Suriname, and that Myanmar has got the seat in 2nd and 3rd role. The seating plans are traditionally adjusted in every session of UNGA. This is just for knowledge.

We also held the second plenary meeting in this session. The report of the General Committee is adopted to some extent. An official from my office attended that meeting. High-level meetings are taking place this week. The high-level General Debate began on 21 September (Tuesday), where heads of member states, senior officials of governments and foreign ministers deliver their policy speeches.

I also attended the commemorative event held at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum this morning. Some heads of state, ministerial officials and permanent representatives paid tributes to the victims and honoured the survivors of September 11, 2001. We laid roses there. The general debates will commence tomorrow. Normally, the Secretary-General of the UN and the President of the General Assembly delivers a speech, and the speakers are tentatively scheduled from Brazil and the United State as host countries.

Mizzima: His Excellency is seen at the events of UNGA, but the delegation of the Myanmar junta regime is not. So, do you know their submission for representatives?

Ambassador: I have learnt the junta submitted their proposals for representative. I generally understand credentials from both sides were examined. However, it is sure that the credentials of the junta regime will not be approved as they are not recognized by global countries. The regime will try its best. But, the international community supports democracy and the basic principles of the UN include supporting

democracy. The voice of Myanmar people calling for democracy can reach the global community, and the credentials of the junta regime will not be approved.

Mizzima: So, if the junta’s credentials are not approved by the UNGA, is your incumbent position more likely to continue?

Ambassador: Although the Credentials Committee has been formed on 14 September. The Committee normally holds its meeting in November. It considered holding the meeting immediately this year. However, it will be convened in November and will discuss the credentials there. So, I will retain my seat. As the Credentials Committee has not decided on the proposed credentials of the junta regime, I will have to continue the incumbent position.

Mizzima: What will be your tasks and missions after you are approved for this position in November?

Ambassador: Before the decision of the Credentials Committee, the incumbent Permanent Representative has to perform his duties.

It is also expected the continuing recognition of incumbent PR in November to defer the decision although it is not 100 per cent sure about the future as usual. I am highly optimistic about the continuity of the incumbent position. Therefore, I delivered a speech on some occasions during the 76th session of UNGA.

The report of Foreign Policy magazine is consistent with our knowledge on this issue to a certain degree. I was instructed to make a speech at the meetings of high-level General Debate between 21 and 27 September. The instruction was also seen on the 27 September schedule. But I also withdrew the instruction after comprehensive discussions at other platforms for ensuring a long-term continuity as the scheduled speech on 27 September is not essential.

The list of speakers has been released. My name was included in the second edition of the speaker list last week for making a speech on 27 September. In the following edition of the list, my name was excluded.

It is generally true that the general debate is important as policy speeches are delivered there. I reviewed it. Some interesting countries take part in the discussions of the multi-level platform, and that it is commonly chosen. Moreover, Myanmar is not a member of the Credentials Committee. The Committee carefully maintains unity among UN member countries. It is a basic principle. They want to avoid voting among the UN member countries in proving credentials. Instead, they prefer negotiations and dialogues of relevant countries to find an appropriate solution. So, the arrangement was made the exclusion of Myanmar ‘s Permanent Representative at the General Debate. But I could make speeches at the meetings of 6 main committees from 27 September to December which is the main period for UNGA.

Mizzima: Thanks for your detailed explanation. Do you mean that you will retain the incumbent position until the 77th session of UNGA?

Ambassador: I am almost likely to do so because the Committee is avoiding the voting system among all the member countries on the credentials. But, nothing is 100 per cent sure.

Mizzima: Does it mean that you are recognized for the incumbent position until the 77th session if there are no tremendous changes in Myanmar because the Credentials Committee wants to avoid voting on Myanmar.

Ambassador: It is understood that relevant countries and key stakeholders have made certain agreements on proving the credentials.

Mizzima: So, you will not make speeches during the meetings of the high-level General Debate until 28 September. But you will hold talks in the following meetings on respective sections. Is that right?

Ambassador: True.

Mizzima: What is the view of UN member countries on the situation of Myanmar? What is their remark on the existing hardships of Myanmar people, human rights violations and war crimes of the junta regime?

Ambassador: Speeches will begin tomorrow, and then their remarks should be noted. Afghanistan is also a hot issue and an interesting subject for global countries. They have a focus on the grave human rights violation in Myanmar. However, the way of their discussions cannot be estimated exactly. Human rights violations of the junta will certainly be condemned at the meetings. They are expected to announce targeted sanction on Myanmar, call for the return of power to the people and observe human rights. Each country is allowed 15 minutes, while some representatives take about 30 minutes, for the presentation, they have to deliver a speech on the policy of their countries and international relations within the allotted time. So, they could talk in detail about Myanmar.

So, we will watch the speeches at the meetings of high-level general debate and then retell their remarks on Myanmar.

Mizzima: If the Ambassador retains the incumbent position, will you continue representing the NUG government?

Ambassador: Most of the countries expect me as a Permanent Representative of the elected government, and that they always refer me for this position. I here express the concern of the Myanmar people, which is also the voice of NUG. So, I am representing the NUG.

Mizzima: One more question is what will be the possible action of the junta regime as you are approved for the incumbent position at the United Nation and it is a message of the global community to oppose the junta?

Ambassador: It is a loss for the junta regime on political grounds and at the United Nations. There was speculation that I will be replaced with the representative of the junta at the UNGA in September. However, the international community has clearly expressed their stance that they do not recognize the junta regime. The ongoing situations have shown the loss of junta in political aspects and the United Nations.

Although bilateral relations will be different in each country, it can be vividly seen that there is no room for the junta regime in the multilateral platforms.

Mr. Thomas Andrews, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, today presented oppressions of Myanmar junta, and his message was very encouraging for Myanmar people. Both internal and external forces need to continue the removal of the junta regime as soon as possible.

Mizzima: You discussed R2P during today’s meetings. Could you talk about it?

Ambassador: An annual ministerial meeting on R2P, which is related to the high-level week of UNGA, was also held virtually today. I joined it. The meeting focused on the role of women and measures for atrocity prevention. I presented crimes against humanity committed by the military, the need for international actions against them, possible crimes under immunity in the military and the removal of such immunity with the help of the international community.

I also talked about the letter of NUG to the International Criminal Court in July to exercise its legal actions against the perpetrators.

Myanmar people have sent concrete evidence on the human rights violation of the junta since 1 February, and we regularly delivered them to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM). The time allotted for my speech is 6 minutes, and I presented more details.

Mizzima: What is your plan as a Permanent Representative of Myanmar at the UNGA to work for Myanmar people who have faced grave human rights violations?

Ambassador: I will continue expressing the voice of Myanmar people on this platform. Efforts will also be made to take action against the junta regime in coordination with the international community, all the stakeholders, the UN, respective countries and groups with the same visions. Beyond them, I will strive in all-out efforts for the total removal of the junta regime, establishment of a federal democratic state, emergence of democracy in the country and the return of power to the public.

Moreover, internal strength and unity play a pivotal to accomplish our objectives. The international community is also urged to provide possible assistance to reach our goals within a short span.