17 January 2026
The Myanmar military has strongly condemned a meeting between the President of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, and the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), following legal action filed in Timor-Leste over war crimes committed by the Myanmar military, according to an official statement.
On January 12, the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) submitted a request to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Timor-Leste, calling for investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed by the Myanmar military.
Subsequently, on January 14, CHRO Director Salai Za Uk and his team met with President José Ramos-Horta at the Presidential Palace to discuss the Myanmar military’s human rights violations.
Following this, on January 16, the Permanent Secretary of the Myanmar junta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hauk Khant Sum, summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of the Timor-Leste Embassy in Yangon, Mr. Elicio do Rosario de Sousa, to the ministry, according to an official announcement.
The statement said the Permanent Secretary strongly objected to what he described as Timor-Leste’s interference in Myanmar’s internal affairs and its engagement with opposition groups, and issued a formal diplomatic protest.
