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Myanmar Expels East Timor Envoy Over War Crime Complaint

Myanmar Expels East Timor Envoy Over War Crime Complaint

Khaosod•International•8h ago

Reader Briefing

Myanmar has ordered the expulsion of East Timor's acting ambassador after its judicial authorities accepted a criminal complaint against the Myanmar military for alleged war crimes.

  • •Myanmar's military junta has expelled East Timor's acting ambassador, Elisio do Rosario de Sousa.
  • •The expulsion follows East Timor's judicial acceptance of a criminal complaint filed by the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) against the Myanmar military.
  • •The CHRO complaint accuses Myanmar's senior military leaders, including Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, of war crimes and crimes against humanity, citing evidence of mass rape, killings, and attacks on civilian infrastructure.
  • •East Timor recently joined ASEAN, and this action escalates tensions within the bloc and is considered a rare move among member states.

Overview

  • •On February 17, 2024, AP reported that Myanmar's military government ordered East Timor's senior diplomat to leave the country.
  • •Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructed Elisio do Rosario de Sousa, acting East Timor Ambassador to Yangon, to depart by February 20, 2024.
  • •The action was taken because East Timor's judicial authorities accepted a criminal complaint from the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) against the Myanmar military.
  • •The CHRO stated on February 2, 2024, that East Timor's judicial bodies opened an investigation into Myanmar's military administration for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
  • •East Timor, a new member of ASEAN, accepted the criminal complaint accusing Myanmar's military of serious offenses, including mass rape and killings.
  • •The expulsion of the East Timorese diplomat significantly escalates tensions between Myanmar and East Timor and is an unusual step among ASEAN members.
  • •In mid-January 2024, East Timor President José Ramos-Horta met with CHRO members and accepted their criminal complaint.
  • •The CHRO complaint against the Myanmar military includes accusations of mass rape, the killing of 10 individuals including journalists and a local Christian leader, and airstrikes on hospitals and religious sites.

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Key Quotes

Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs
"Acting East Timor Ambassador to Yangon, Elisio do Rosario de Sousa, to leave the country by February 20."
นายเอลิซิโอ โด โรซาริโอ เดอ ซูซา รักษาการเอกอัครราชทูตติมอร์ตะวันออกในนครย่างกุ้ง เดินทางออกจากประเทศภายในวันที่ 20 ก.พ.
Chin Human Rights Organization
"East Timor judicial bodies have opened an investigation into Myanmar's military administration, including Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, for war crimes and crimes against humanity."
หน่วยงานตุลาการของติมอร์ตะวันออกเปิดการสอบสวนคดีต่อฝ่ายบริหารทางทหารของเมียนมา รวมถึง พล.อ. อาวุโส มิน อ่อง หล่าย ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด ในข้อหาอาชญากรรมสงครามและอาชญากรรมต่อมนุษยชาติ

Key Entities

Place

Myanmar(เมียนมา)ℹ️
The country whose military government ordered the expulsion of East Timor's envoy.
East Timor(ติมอร์ตะวันออก)ℹ️
The country whose judicial authorities accepted a war crime complaint against Myanmar's military.
Chin State(รัฐชิน)ℹ️
The state from which the Chin Human Rights Organization, representing a minority group, originates.

Person

East Timor Envoy(ทูตติมอร์ตะวันออก)
The senior diplomat of East Timor who was ordered to leave Myanmar.
José Ramos-Horta(โฆเซ รามอส-ออร์ตา)ℹ️
The President of East Timor who discussed the criminal complaint with CHRO members.
Elisio do Rosario de Sousa(เอลิซิโอ โด โรซาริโอ เดอ ซูซา)
The acting East Timor Ambassador in Yangon who was ordered to leave Myanmar.
Min Aung Hlaing(มิน อ่อง หล่าย)ℹ️
Senior General and Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar's Armed Forces, accused of war crimes.

Organization

Chin Human Rights Organization(องค์กรสิทธิมนุษยชนรัฐชิน)
The organization that filed a criminal complaint with East Timor against the Myanmar military for war crimes.
Myanmar's Armed Forces(กองทัพเมียนมา)
The military entity accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in a complaint filed with East Timor.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)(สมาคมประชาชาติเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้)ℹ️
The regional bloc that East Timor recently joined, within which this diplomatic incident has escalated tensions.

Timeline

February 17(วันที่ 17 ก.พ.)
The date the AP report on Myanmar expelling the East Timor envoy was published.
February 20(วันที่ 20 ก.พ.)
The deadline for East Timor's acting ambassador to leave Myanmar.
Last year(ปีที่ผ่านมา)
The year East Timor joined ASEAN.
Mid-January(ช่วงกลางเดือนม.ค.)
The period when East Timor's President met with CHRO and accepted the complaint.
February 2(วันที่ 2 ก.พ.)
The date the Chin Human Rights Organization released a statement about the judicial investigation.
January 25, 2026(Jan. 25, 2026)
The date of a file photo showing Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing visiting a polling station.
January 14, 2026(Jan. 14, 2026)
The date of a file photo showing a delegation from the Chin Human Rights Organization meeting with East Timor's President.
October 27, 2025(Oct. 27, 2025)
The date of a file photo showing East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta during an interview.