Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


    July 03, 2011

Burmese Diplomat Defects to US

   Appeals to US State Department for political asylum

   VOA News
   Burma's junta chief Senior Gen. Than Shwe is seen during a dinner to
   mark the 63rd anniversary of Independence Day in Naypyitaw, January 04,
   2011
   Photo: AP
   Burma's junta chief Senior Gen. Than Shwe is seen during a dinner to
   mark the 63rd anniversary of Independence Day in Naypyitaw, January 04,
   2011

   A top Burmese diplomat working in Washington has told VOA that he is
   defecting to the United States.
   In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, dated July 4,
   Deputy Chief of Mission to the Burma embassy Kyaw Win requests
   political asylum, saying he fears prosecution if he returns to his
   homeland because of his efforts to improve bilateral relations and work
   for democratic reforms in Burma.
   Kyaw Win says he had hoped the military would ease its grip on the
   country, but instead, military officials are consolidating their grip
   on power and seeking to stamp out the voices of those seeking
   democracy.
   He also urges Clinton to use the political will of the U.S. to
   investigate human rights violations in Burma and implement highly
   targeted financial sanctions against the government and what he called
   the cronies who help keep them in power.

   Kyaw Win has a wife and three adult children, all living in the U.S.
   He has over 31 years of service in Burma's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

.