Myanmar junta hires Israeli-Canadian lobbyist to ‘explain’ coup
An Israeli-Canadian lobbyist hired by Myanmar’s junta has downplayed the military’s coup in the country, claiming the generals will leave politics shortly, seek to improve relations with the US and plan to distance themselves from China.
Ari Ben-Menashe, a former Israeli Military Intelligence official who has previously represented Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe and Sudan’s military rulers, told the Reuters news agency that the military junta also wants to repatriate Rohingya Muslims who fled to neighboring Bangladesh, amid attacks on the minority that UN officials have termed genocide.
Ben-Menashe said he was tasked with contacting the UAE and Saudi Arabia on repatriation.
Myanmar has been rocked by unrest since a February 1 coup ousted civilian leader Suu Kyi from power and triggered a mass uprising opposed to the new military junta.
Wednesday was the deadliest day so far, with the United Nations saying that at least 38 people were killed as security forces fired into crowds, shooting some protesters in the head.
Ben-Menashe said he was tasked with contacting the UAE and Saudi Arabia on repatriation.
Myanmar has been rocked by unrest since a February 1 coup ousted civilian leader Suu Kyi from power and triggered a mass uprising opposed to the new military junta.
Wednesday was the deadliest day so far, with the United Nations saying that at least 38 people were killed as security forces fired into crowds, shooting some protesters in the head.
