JAKARTA - Myanmar's ruling military regime formed an advisory board for the State Administration Council (SAC) last Thursday. One of the seven members of this advisory board is a citizen of the United States (US). This is ironic, considering that Uncle Sam's country imposed sanctions on Myanmar's militant coup leaders.
The regime's advisory council is headed by the Commander (2) of the Special Operations Bureau Lt. Gen. Than Tun Oo. He was assisted by Lieutenant General Lu Aye and retired Rakhine State Security Minister Colonel Htein Lin.
Also, three advisers are women from civil society, namely Yin Yin New, Yin Yin Oo, and Khin Oo Hlaing, and one civil adviser who is a US citizen Salai (Andrew) Ngun Cung Lian.
Ngun Cung Lian is a former legal advisor to the Myanmar Peace Center and the Rakhine State Commission of Inquiry under President U Thein Sein (2012-2015).
An ethnic Chin native, Ngun Cung Lian also worked as a negotiator for the Chin National Front (CNF), an armed ethnic group, and with CNF fighting the Myanmar military in the 1990s. Previously, he had to leave Myanmar for India, after the 1988 national uprising.
In October 1996, he migrated to the US as reported by The Irrawaddy. He received a bachelor's degree in economics and international culture from Valparaiso University.
He also received masters and doctoral degrees in law from Indiana University's Mauer Law School. Everything in the United States. Returning to Myanmar, he founded a law firm under the names Herzfeld, Rubin, Meyer, and Rose Law Firm Limited which were registered in July 2013.
After the NLD government dissolved the Myanmar Peace Center and reformed the peace commission, he and other advisers worked with several non-governmental organizations involved in the peace process.
It is noted that he joined the think tank Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security (MIPS) as research director of Federalism and the Constitutional Reform Program.
Ngun Cung Lian's joining the Myanmar military regime contradicts the sanctions imposed by the United States in an Executive Order signed by President Joe Biden.
These provisions prohibit US citizens from contributing to or providing any funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of anyone whose property and interests are blocked by the order.
Following his appointment to an advisory council, thousands of ethnic Chins criticized him for joining hands with the military. A campaign against him has been posted on Facebook for serving as an advisor to coup leaders who are on the US sanctions list.
On Friday, social media users shared a post that read, “Please petition the DHS [US Department of Homeland Security] to cancel Dr. Citizenship. Ngun Cung Lian, an adviser to Min Aung Hlaing and Myanmar Military leaders, lives in Indianapolis, USA".
"hi @USEmbassyBurma, @USCISMediaNorth Salai Ngun Cung Lian, the refugee -> US citizen from Indiana, is now an advisor of Myanmar military junta. Isn't it illegal? can you revoke citizenship? #WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar #RejectMyanmarMilitaryCoup" wrote the @MinMinThuZar account as quoted Sunday 21 February.
"@POTUS, @SecBlinken, @LeaderMcConnell He is a US citizen now serving as an adviser to Myanmar Military Junta. His name is Dr. Salai (Andrew) Ngun Cung Lian", wrote the account @pkhine123.
@POTUS @SecBlinken @LeaderMcConnell He is a US citizen now serving as an adviser to Myanmar Military Junta. His name is Dr. Salai (Andrew) Ngun Cung Lian https://t.co/soT2PEGiSt
- Phyu Khine (@pkhine123) February 20, 2021
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