The U.S. State Department has confirmed that an American government worker has died in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest commercial city, according to officials on June 11th. Two sources indicated the incident took place at a hotel facility last month.
“We can confirm the death of a U.S. government employee assigned to U.S. Embassy Rangoon,” stated a spokesperson from the State Department, declining to share further details. The city of Yangon was previously called Rangoon when it was under colonial rule.
“Out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones, we have no further information to provide at this time.”
According to two individuals with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, the official was discovered at Yangon’s Sakura Residence & Hotel, located within a major diplomatic area of the city.
When contacted by phone, hotel employees refused to provide any statement, and the local police department has not responded to inquiries for comment.
The Associated Press initially broke this story and reported that authorities have detained a Thai woman in relation to the death. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm these details at this time.
“This is currently a matter of consular assistance and an ongoing police investigation being handled through the relevant official channels,” stated Thailand’s Foreign Ministry, refusing to elaborate further.
Myanmar has experienced significant political and economic instability following the military’s power grab through a coup in February 2021, which resulted in the arrest of Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi and other government officials.
This military takeover led to massive public demonstrations, ultimately igniting a civil conflict between the military forces and a combination of pro-democracy armed groups and established ethnic minority militias.
In early April, former military leader Min Aung Hlaing took the oath of office as the nation’s president after a heavily criticized, military-controlled election held during ongoing conflict.
