Myanmar Diplomat Refuses to Give Up UN Post in Manhattan for Over Five Years
A Myanmar diplomat, U Kyaw Moe Tun, has for more than five years refused to give up his United Nations post and an associated townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side, The New York Times reports.
An unusual, long-running diplomatic situation continues in New York, centered on Myanmar's representative, U Kyaw Moe Tun. According to The New York Times, he has for more than five years refused to relinquish his United Nations post.
A Townhouse on the Upper East Side
Along with the post, the diplomat has also continued to hold on to a sandstone townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side that is tied to his position. The situation has remained unchanged for years, with U Kyaw Moe Tun still occupying the role despite the extended passage of time.
The report does not detail the specific circumstances that led to this standoff, but the case illustrates how questions of diplomatic status can remain unresolved for extended periods. New York is home to the United Nations headquarters, where countries' permanent representatives, including Myanmar's delegation, are accredited.
What stands out in U Kyaw Moe Tun's case is the sheer duration of his unchanged position — more than five years is a notable length of time for any diplomatic dispute to persist. His continued physical presence both in the post and in the residence tied to it suggests the matter of Myanmar's representation at the United Nations remains unsettled.
The New York Times report draws attention to this rare instance in international diplomatic practice, in which one individual has maintained his formal status over an extended period despite the passage of time.
