Another Burmese regime diplomat has defected today in Washington, DC-07-13-2011

Dear All,

Nine days after U Kyaw Win, Deputy Chief of the Burmese regime embassy in Washington defected, another Burmese regime diplomat has defected today in Washington, DC.

First Secretary U Soe Aung was summoned by the Burmese regime on July 12, 2011, to come back to Burma with his family within 24 hours and report to the authorities in Nay Pyi Taw by July 15, 2011. He was asked to return the house he was staying with his family, rented by the embassy, to the embassy yesterday and leave for Burma with his family at 2:00 PM. The Burmese regime also assigned another official, former Major Kyaw Tin Shein to escort him and his family on their way back to Burma and supervise his return.

After U Kyaw Win announced his defection on July 4, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the regime has set up an Departmental Enquiry (D.E) with former military officials, who are holding senior positions at the Foreign Ministry. U Soe Aung will be interrogated by the D.E when he returns and may be taken action by the regime, with minimum punishment will be termination from the job, and maximum will be an imprisonment. Therefore, U Soe Aung decided to leave the regime and defect in the United States. He has informed his desire to apply political asylum in the United States to the U.S. State Department this morning.

U Soe Aung is a 32-year veteran of carrier foreign service official and served in Geneva, Bangkok and Singapore. He came to the Washington, DC in 2008.

It is possible that more defection of the regime's diplomats will be coming soon, as many civilian diplomats of the regime are beginning to lose their hope of seeing freedom, justice and democracy in their country and not willing to serve under the successive military regime, under the disguise of civilian government, and not willing to defend for the regime in the international community.

Regards, Aung Din