Located just half a block from Central Park on East 77th Street in New York, Myanmar’s permanent mission to the United Nations has become a unique focal point of the ongoing political crisis in the Southeast Asian country. The townhouse that serves as Myanmar’s diplomatic mission is currently divided between two competing factions representing Myanmar’s military-backed government and the ousted civilian government.

Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations appointed in 2020, occupies the lower three floors of the five-story mission building. He represents the elected government that was overthrown by the military in a coup in early 2021 and has refused to recognize the military junta’s authority since. The upper two floors are controlled by diplomats loyal to the military-backed administration led by Min Aung Hlaing, who has styled himself as Myanmar’s civilian president after elections widely criticized as fraudulent.

Despite the military’s efforts to assert control over the mission, Moe Tun and his supporters maintain possession of the townhouse, keeping the locks under their control and closely monitoring the activities of the military-backed officials upstairs. The United Nations continues to list the pre-coup government as Myanmar’s legitimate representative, a position that Moe Tun has used to amplify international attention on Myanmar’s ongoing conflict.

Min Aung Hlaing’s government has sought to undermine Moe Tun’s position, accusing him of misappropriating funds amounting to US$2.6 million and labeling him a “fugitive,” “thief,” and “traitor” in letters to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The junta has also reportedly engaged Interpol in efforts to pursue legal actions against the ambassador. Since the coup, Moe Tun’s passport has been voided and attempts have been made to freeze the mission’s bank accounts. Despite such pressure, he has continued his work at the UN, including a 2021 address to the Security Council in which he criticized the international community’s response to the situation in Myanmar.

Moe Tun has faced personal risks as well; following an assassination attempt in 2021, he was provided with a security detail by the United States. His family has also endured hardships, including exposure to lead paint contamination in their official residence in upstate New York. Public health officials advised the family to relocate, but concerns that the military-backed government would seize the property prevented them from doing so. The ambassador has said his young son suffers from speech delays attributed to the exposure.

Support for Moe Tun comes from members of the Myanmar diaspora and defectors from other diplomatic missions aligned with the junta. Volunteers, including a retired chauffeur and younger professionals such as a doctor and ride-share drivers, have helped protect the mission against takeover attempts and maintain operations amid dwindling financial resources. Moe Tun has significantly cut expenses by ceasing to pay staff and handling tasks such as lawn care himself, relying on personal support to sustain his diplomatic efforts. He describes his financial situation as precarious but remains committed to representing Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement.

The ongoing conflict in Myanmar has resulted in more than 100,000 deaths and displaced nearly four million people amid fighting between the military and pro-democracy forces. From his mission office, Moe Tun continues to connect with activists and civilians enduring the crisis, maintaining his position as one of the few internationally recognized voices opposing the junta on behalf of the Myanmar people.