Chargé d’Affaires ai of Timor-Leste instructed to leave Myanmar within 7 Days

Myanmar reconsidered its position and decided to go along with the ASEAN consensus on the application of Timor-Leste for ASEAN membership following repeated written and verbal commitments made by Timor-Leste to uphold the fundamental principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter. However, it is regrettable to observe that Timor-Leste has failed to uphold its commitments and obligations even after becoming a member state of ASEAN.

It is disappointing to note that the President of Timor-Leste received members of the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) who filed a criminal complaint against members of the Myanmar Armed Forces on 14 January 2026. Such unconstructive engagement by a Head of State of one ASEAN Member State with an unlawful organization opposing another ASEAN Member State is totally unacceptable which constitutes a blatant violation of the fundamental principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).
In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Chargé d’Affaires ai of Timor-Leste in Yangon on 16 January 2026, expressed its strong condemnation against such engagement, urged the Government of Timor-Leste to uphold the fundamental principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter as done by other ASEAN Member States and sought a formal clarification from the Government of Timor-Leste. During the meeting, an Aide-Memoire was handed over to the Chargé d’Affaires ai in which it is stated, among others, that the Ministry will continue to closely monitor the situation and if it is necessary, more serious measures will be taken. To this end, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar also issued a Statement condemning the engagement as a violation of the long-standing practices and principles of ASEAN on 18 January 2026.

Subsequently, the Government of Myanmar reiterated its strong protests, encouraged the Government of Timor-Leste to uphold its commitments and fundamental principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter and sought a formal clarification from the Government of Timor-Leste in order to avoid further deterioration of bilateral relations during the meeting between the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat on 29 January 2026 in Cebu, the Philippines where the Minister promised to send a formal letter to the Government of Myanmar within a week.

While waiting for a formal clarification from the Government of Timor-Leste, the Ministry has learnt with great disappointment from different media outlets that the Government of Timor-Leste has accepted the case submitted by the CHRO and appointed a senior prosecutor to examine the file which has never taken place in any other ASEAN Member States in the past resulting in setting an unprecedented practice, negative interpretation and escalation of pubic resentments in Myanmar which is ultimately counter-productive to the existing bilateral relations between Myanmar and Timor-Leste.

As repeatedly pointed out before, such unconstructive activities and negative approaches toward Myanmar initiated by the President of Timor-Leste is a blatant violation of the fundamental principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter particularly Articles 2(2)(a), 2(2)(e) and 2(2)(k) which underscore the importance of upholding respect for sovereignty and non-interference as well as abstention from participation in any policy or activity, including the use of its territory, pursued by any ASEAN Member State or non-ASEAN State or any non-State actor, which threatens the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political and economic stability of ASEAN Member States.
Despite the good relationship between the Governments of Myanmar and Timor-Leste, the President of Timor-Leste has frequently interfered in the internal affairs of Myanmar. Therefore, the Ministry summoned Mr Elisio do Rosario de Sousa, Chargé d’Affaires ai of the Embassy of Timor-Leste on 13 February 2026 and instructed him to leave the territory of Myanmar no later than 20 February 2026 under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on the Diplomatic Relations (1961).

Myanmar remains committed to maintaining friendly relations with all countries on the basis of equality, mutual respect, non-interference, respect for sovereignty and adherence to the fundamental principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Nay Pyi Taw

15 February 2026

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