International embassies in Myanmar have issued security alerts after leaked government memos warned of possible attacks in the Myanmar capital of Naypyitaw.
The security alerts issued on Thursday come in the wake of the leaked classified security warning that had been signed by the Myanmar President’s Office Director-General U Naing Swe Oo, issued by the President’s Office Politics and Security Department and dated September 16.
The warning instructed governmental offices and departments to take increased security measures, because the Ministry of Home Affairs had reported a possible plan by ethnic armed groups to attack the area around the Naypyitaw Council building, reports The Irrawaddy.
The United States Embassy in Myanmar issued a security alert warning of potential attacks that could take place in Naypyitaw on September 26, October 16 and 26. The capital, as well as Yangon and Mandalay, was also under the threat of attack in the coming months, reports the Strait Times.
The Canadian Embassy, the British government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and the Australian Embassy issued similar security alerts, telling their citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to conflict areas in Rakhine, Chin and Shan states, as well as Mandalay, Yangon and Naypyitaw, reports The Irrawaddy.
The security alert from the British FCO also stated that the Myanmar government had not confirmed the information.
“The Myanmar government has not corroborated this information. No specific measures are recommended at this time,” said the security alert from the FCO, warning British citizens and travellers to take care while traveling in any areas near Myanmar’s borders.
Despite the embassies’ warnings to their fellow citizens and staff, the Myanmar government has not officially raised any public alert on the issue. The President’s Office and military representatives were unavailable for comment on Thursday.