A U.S. diplomat was found dead in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city. The U.S. State Department confirmed the information to the Associated Press on Wednesday but did not provide further details about the cause or circumstances of the death.
Three sources in the diplomatic community in Yangon, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release information, said Myanmar police are treating the case as a homicide. According to them, the body was discovered two weeks ago at a hotel about 1.5 kilometers from the U.S. Embassy. The hotel specializes in long-term rentals and is frequented by diplomats, businesspeople, and international visitors.
A Thai woman has been detained by police in connection with the investigation. Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has provided consular assistance to the woman and notified her family but declined further comment. Myanmar police have not made any official statement about the incident.
The U.S. State Department said: 'Out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones, we have no further information to provide at this time.'
Myanmar is currently in the midst of a civil war that has lasted more than five years, triggered by the military coup that overthrew the elected government. According to the ACLED monitoring project, more than 96,000 people have been killed and at least 3.6 million displaced. The military junta now controls only about 21% of the territory after years of conflict with ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy forces. In April, former leader Aung San Suu Kyi was moved to house arrest after President Min Aung Hlaing granted amnesty to thousands of prisoners. Suu Kyi, 80, still faces 13 years in prison.
