Myanmar’s state media confirms death of slain ex-ambassador

Myanmar’s junta-controlled state media has confirmed the death of a former regime ambassador who was gunned down by a Yangon-based urban guerrilla group on Thursday. Cho Tun Aung, who served as ambassador to Cambodia until earlier this year, died Thursday morning, according to a notice published by his family in the Myanma Ahlin newspaper on Friday. “Cho Tun Aung, 68, former ambassador and ex-brigadier-general, passed away at 10:05am on Thursday,” the notice said, referring to the deceased as “a devout Buddhist and a fervent donor to monks, temples, and monasteries.” A funeral will be held at the Nyein Aye Zayat hall of Mingaladon Military Hospital at noon on Saturday, the announcement added. The bereaved family said it would also hold a food-donation ceremony next Wednesday to make merit for the slain ex-diplomat. No mention is made of the cause of his death. Cho Tun Aung retired from the military after the 2010 general elections. He was later appointed ambassador to Brunei and then to Cambodia, stepping down from the latter position in March of this year. In 2023, junta chief Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing awarded him the military’s highest honorary title, “Wunna Kyaw Htin,” of which he was reportedly extremely proud. According to the Golden Valley Warriors, the group that claimed responsibility for his killing, Cho Tun Aung led a special advisory body of retired military officials formed by Min Aung Hlaing to help him crush groups opposed to his rule. He also reportedly taught counter-terrorism and international relations at the National Defence College. “Today, we have successfully carried out our mission,” a member of the Golden Valley Warriors told Myanmar Now after the assassination, which he said had been planned for over four months. He also warned that the group would “hunt down” others who support the regime. “They may have full security, but those military supporters cannot escape us. We will hunt down the rest of them, we warn you—just be prepared,” he said. In September 2022, regime opponents shot and killed another retired general and former ambassador, 72-year-old Ohn Thwin, in front of his home in Yangon’s Hlaing Township. Myanmar has faced devastating political turmoil since the military seized power from the country’s elected civilian government in February 2021. The regime has responded to the threat from resistance forces by carrying out airstrikes and other indiscriminate attacks on schools, hospitals, monasteries, and other civilian targets across the country. According to the latest data compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, at least 6,700 people, including 808 children and 1,612 women, have been killed by the regime since the coup. The group adds, however, that these are only confirmed cases, and that the actual figures could be much higher.

Myanmar’s state media confirms death of slain ex-ambassador

No cause of death was provided in a notice published by his family in the Myanma Ahlin newspaper on Friday

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