London | British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab on Thursday denounced the “intimidation” of the Burmese junta following its takeover of the Burmese embassy in London.
“We condemn the intimidating actions of the Burma military regime in London yesterday,” the British foreign minister said in a message posted on Twitter.
He praised the Burmese Ambassador Kyaw Zawar Minn for “his courage” and reiterated his call for an end to the “appalling violence” in Burma and “a rapid restoration of democracy”, after the military coup of the 1st February.
The Burmese ambassador on Wednesday accused a military figure close to the junta, which took power in Rangoon, of “occupying” his embassy in London.
Asked about the identity of those who were inside the building while he was stationed outside, Ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn replied to AFP: “the military attaché, they occupy my embassy”.
The diplomat, who in March had given his support to the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi, had previously told the “Daily Telegraph” that those who occupied the embassy had “received instructions from the capital” and therefore that they were not going to “let me in”.
The UK has already sanctioned several junta officials, including army commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing, for their role in the military coup, as well as military-linked conglomerates.