The State Administration Council (SAC) has stopped the diplomatic relations with East Timor and ordered its top diplomat to leave Myanmar by September 1.

Regarding the matter, SAC’s information team leader Major General Zaw Min Tun told the Eleven Media: “Mainly, a country has its sovereign power and dignity. In the international community and the ASEAN region, East Timor has spread false news and lopsided accusations against Myanmar. This is why we first made a necessary diplomatic response. That country is attempting to cause misunderstanding among the Myanmar people. In one case, they said the country would not join ASEAN unless it can address the Myanmar issue. Whether it will become an ASEAN member country must be decided by all the existing 10 member countries. Without all those members, any decision cannot be made. As Myanmar does not have the chance to attend or represent ASEAN summits, how can a new membership be decided? They know that. But, the country is acting to cause misunderstanding. So, we had to act so as that country is trying to hamper the country’s sovereignty and the dignity of the Myanmar people.”

He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would make an announcement.

East Timor issued a statement on August 27 condemning Myanmar’s expulsion of its top diplomat.

East Timor stressed the importance of supporting all efforts for the return of democratic order in Myanmar and expresses its solidarity with the people of Myanmar.

NUG (National Unity Government) representatives attended a sworn-in ceremony of a new East Timor government held earlier this year. The president of East Timor also received them. Then, Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Charge d’ Affaires of the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in Yangon in protest against the matter.