After the East Timorese government explicitly opposed the military council regarding the current political crisis in Myanmar, the Burmese military leaders expelled the Timorese ambassador and diplomatic officers from the country. East Timor has clearly criticized and objected to the military council’s acts of brutal repression against the Burmese people, and the country’s prime minister himself has said that if ASEAN is not able to effectively help and resolve the Myanmar issue, the country’s prime minister himself has said that he will not join the ASEAN group. In addition, he officially invited NUG Foreign Minister Daw Zin Ma Aung to the presidential appointment ceremony. In this regard, the military council summoned the East Timor ambassador and objected. The President of Timor said that the expulsion of the ambassador is a symbol of protecting human rights and should be honored.
On the other hand, East Timor has applied to become the 11th member country of ASEAN and currently has the right to send a representative as an observer to the ASEAN talks. However, East Timor’s leader has also said that he will not join ASEAN if ASEAN does not effectively resolve the Myanmar issue. In fact, East Timor is the only country in the world that has openly supported the NUG.
