By Moe Nya / MPA
Myanmar’s military government has expelled Timor-Leste’s top diplomat in the country, citing interference in domestic affairs, in a move that follows a landmark war crimes lawsuit filed against the junta in Dili.
Mr Alicio de Rosario de Sousa, the Timorese Chargé d’Affaires in Yangon, has been declared persona non grata and ordered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to leave the country within seven days, no later than 20 February.
The military council justified the expulsion by accusing the Timorese government—and its president—of intervening in Myanmar’s internal politics. The junta strongly objected to Dili’s ongoing engagement with anti-coup resistance factions and opposition groups.
According to a statement from the military, Timor-Leste had repeatedly ignored warnings to adhere to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) core principle of non-interference. The junta warned that further “stringent measures” would be taken if Dili’s diplomatic stance does not change.
However, the expulsion is widely seen as retaliation for recent legal developments in Timor-Leste.
In late January, the Timorese Attorney General’s office officially accepted a criminal complaint targeting Myanmar’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, and other senior military officials. The case, filed by the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), alleges severe war crimes and crimes against humanity.
International affairs analysts suggest the expulsion could trigger a reciprocal diplomatic freeze.
“Timor-Leste may retaliate by expelling Myanmar diplomats in their country or reducing diplomatic relations to the lowest level,” an analyst observed. “If the situation worsens, we could see the temporary or permanent closure of embassies.”
The move marks a historic low in bilateral relations between the two Southeast Asian nations. Timor-Leste, which officially joined Asean in October last year, has consistently been one of the bloc’s most vocal critics of the Myanmar military following its 2021 coup.
For anti-coup forces inside Myanmar, the junta’s decision highlights its growing diplomatic vulnerability.
“This action is meant to show that the junta will expel anyone who doesn’t listen to them,” a young resistance fighter noted. “But on the global stage, it will only isolate Myanmar even further.”
