Two men from Myanmar were arrested in New York and charged with plotting to assault and attack a foreign official – Myanmar’s U.N. representative – in a conspiracy involving a Thailand arms dealer, U.S. federal prosecutors said yesterday.
Phyo Hein Htut and Ye Hein Zaw are accused of planning to hire attackers to assault U.N. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, who has refused junta orders to stand down from his post, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
“As alleged, Htut and Zaw plotted to gravely harm or kill Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations in a planned attack on a foreign official on American soil,” federal Attorney Audrey Strauss said. “We commend the tireless work of our law enforcement partners at all levels of government to ensure the safety of foreign diplomats and officials.”
According to New York’s police chief, Dermot Shea, Htut and Zaw were recruited by an arms dealer in Thailand who sells weapons to the Tatmadaw, as Myanmar’s military is called. Htut was allegedly an intermediary who agreed to hire the attackers to injure ambassador in hope it would force him to resign from his position. If he refused to step down, the unidentified arms dealer recommended the assailants assassinate Kyaw Moe Tun.
Kyaw Moe Tun declared his opposition to military rule soon after the Feb. 1 coup. The United Nations does not recognize the junta and considers him the nation’s legal representative.
The complaint says that Zaw contacted Htut by telephone shortly after agreeing to the plan and transferred $4,000 using the Zelle app as an advance payment on the conspiracy.
Neither suspect entered a plea at their Friday court appearance where they were read the counts against them.
#MYANMAR JUNTA MASSACRES REPORTED TO UN
Kyaw Moe Tun, #Myanmar ambo to UN details evidence of crimes against humanity in July in Kani, Sagaing.
⁃Disfigured bodies
⁃eyes gouged out
⁃Injuries consistent with torture.
⁃circa 40 bodies found#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/7bvffVd8wz— Shafiur Rahman (@shafiur) August 4, 2021
In earlier reports on Thursday, Kyaw Moe Tun said an unknown organization had hired Myanmar nationals living in New York City to hurt him. He said that they had applied for asylum after visiting the United States on visitors’ visas and planned the attack for Tuesday, the same day Kyaw Moe Tun submitted a report on military massacres in the Sagaing region to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
I’m horrified by news that a supplier of weapons to the Myanmar military allegedly paid two Myanmar nationals to harm or kill UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun in New York in a plot to pressure him to relinquish his post. Who was behind this outrage and who will hold them accountable?
— UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews (@RapporteurUn) August 6, 2021
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