Kyaw Moe Tun

Kyaw Moe Tun (; born 28 July 1969) is a Burmese diplomat who currently serves as the Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations. Prior to his appointment to UN, he had served as director-general of International Organizations and Economic Development Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2016 to 2018.

In 2021, while Tun was serving as ambassador, the Myanmar military overthrew the elected civilian government in a coup d'etat. Tun remained loyal to the civilian government. The military regime attempted to remove him from his post, but Tun remained in his position at the UN.

Early life and education Kyaw Moe Tun was born on 28 July 1969. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Yangon, and a Master of Business Administration from the International University of Japan.

Career He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in November 1993 as head of branch/third secretary. He served as Third/Second Secretary in the Embassy of Myanmar in Jakarta, Indonesia from 1997 to 2001 and was posted as Third/Second Secretary at the Embassy of Myanmar in Jakarta, Indonesia from July 1997 to May 2001.

He was later transferred to the Embassy of Myanmar in Singapore as Counsellor/Minister Counsellor from 2011 to 2012. He then served as Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the UN from April 2012 to March 2015. In January 2015, he was appointed as director of International Organizations and Economic Department, and later promoted to deputy director-general in March 2015, and director-general in September 2016.

On 20 October 2020, he was appointed as Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in New York.

2021 Myanmar coup d'état

In February 2021, after the Tatmadaw (Burmese military) seized power in a coup d'état and deposed the democratically elected government, Tun made a speech at the UN General Assembly on 26 February 2021, appealing for international action against the military regime. He said, "We need further strongest possible action from the international community to immediately end the military coup, to stop oppressing the innocent people, to return the state power to the people and to restore the democracy."

He was subsequently fired from his position by the military regime. Kyaw Moe Tun stated his intention to continue to represent the democratically elected government of Myanmar, whose officials had either been exiled, imprisoned, or gone underground. On 1 March 2021, he sent letters to the General Assembly president and UN Secretary-General António Guterres saying he represents the country's legitimate government and remains Myanmar's ambassador. The next day, the military regime named his deputy, Tin Maung Naing, as the new chargé d'affaires in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Guterres. The two competing letters of appointment went to the UN General Assembly Credentials Committee, and Tin Maung Naing resigned the following day. The United States and its ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, recognize Tun as the legitimate representative of Myanmar in the UN.

On 9 April 2021, he again condemned the junta and urged the international community for intervention and the implementation of a no-fly zone over Myanmar. He also regretted what he called "lack of action" of the UN Security Council.

In March 2021, the military regime charged Tun with "high treason" for accepting the appointment of Myanmar Representative to the United Nations from the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (National Assembly)'s National Unity Government of Myanmar, the civilian government-in-exile. However, the UN rejected the authority of the CRPH to make appointments, with UN official Richard Gowan stating that Kyaw Moe Tun does not represent the NUG at the UN. For this reason, the UN has blocked attempts by NUG leadership to appoint a replacement.

In September 2021, in the leadup to the 76th session of the General Assembly, the UN had been expected to make a formal decision on recognizing the legitimate government of Myanmar. A behind-the-scenes compromise between the US and China, prevented the Burmese military's representatives from attending the session, effectively forestalling a decision to replace Kyaw Moe Tun. In December 2021, the General Assembly's Credentials Committee deferred consideration of the credentials of the ambassadors, effectively rejecting an attempt by Myanmar's rulers to replace Tun.

In the 2022 special session of the General Assembly, Tun as Burmese ambassador to the UN, cast his country's vote in favor of Resolution ES-11/1, condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. This vote was the opposite stance from the Myanmar military regime, which supports Russia.

Personal life He is married and has two children.