The Embassy of Myanmar in Jakarta has formally criticized The Jakarta Post over an opinion article that referred to a representative of Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) as a “deputy minister of foreign affairs,” calling the description misleading and harmful to Myanmar’s sovereignty.

In a letter published by the newspaper, Mang Hau Thang, Head of Mission at the Embassy of Myanmar in Jakarta, expressed concern over the article titled “An Election Without Legitimacy in Myanmar,” which appeared on April 2, 2026.

The embassy said the National Unity Government had been officially declared a terrorist organization by Myanmar’s government on May 8, 2021, and argued that recognizing its representatives with official titles could damage the credibility and professional standards of the publication.

The letter stated that Myanmar maintains friendly diplomatic relations with Indonesia in accordance with the Vienna Conventions and urged the newspaper to exercise balanced editorial judgment when covering politically sensitive issues involving Myanmar.

The embassy also accused the newspaper of spreading misinformation that could contribute to instability in the country. It called on The Jakarta Post to respect Myanmar’s sovereignty and acknowledge what it described as the government’s efforts toward democratic transition.

The statement further appealed for future reporting to follow “precautionary” and “do no-harm” principles to ensure balanced coverage without prejudice against any country.

The controversy comes as Myanmar’s political situation continues to draw international scrutiny following years of conflict, disputed elections and tensions between the military government and opposition groups, including the National Unity Government formed after the 2021 military takeover.