Demonstrators protest against a military coup in a village in Nanglao township, Myanmar. (April 9, 2021)
The permanent representative to the United Nations appointed by Myanmar’s democratically elected government called on the international community Friday (April 9) for a no-fly zone, an arms embargo and targeted sanctions to protect the people of Myanmar from the junta.
“Strong and urgent action by the UN Security Council is necessary to save the lives of innocent civilians in Burma,” Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun told an informal meeting of the Council. “Strong and collective action must be taken immediately. For us, time is of the essence, please act now.”
File photo of Myanmar’s Ambassador to the UN Kyaw Moe Tun speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. (March 11, 2019)
The envoy had been in the news last February when he spoke out against the military coup and called on the international community to impose targeted sanctions on businesses linked to the military and their families. He also urged a moratorium on foreign investment until a democratically elected government is restored.
“I wish to emphasize the responsibility of the international community and the UN Security Council to use all necessary means to help the people of Burma from the atrocities, brutality and inhumane acts committed by the military through collective and concrete actions in a timely and decisive manner.” The ambassador to the United Nations said. In diplomatic terms, “all necessary means” often refers to military action.
The Burmese army staged a coup Feb. 1, overthrowing the civilian government and detaining de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior officials of her National League for Democracy (NLD). Since the coup, Myanmar has been plunged into chaos and violence.
The military has claimed widespread fraud in last November’s elections. The NLD won that election by a landslide. Myanmar’s election commission rejected the fraud allegations. The coup was followed by daily peaceful protests across the country and attempts by the military to brutally suppress them. More than 600 civilians, including several children, were killed in the streets or in their own homes. Nearly 3,000 people have been arrested, according to the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPPB).
Friday’s U.N. meeting was organized by Britain with the support of the United States and the European members of the 15-member Security Council. British Ambassador Barbara Woodward said the purpose of the meeting was to hear “the views of the Burmese people who the military is trying to silence.
Among those speaking out was Zin Mar Aung, the acting foreign minister appointed by the Committee of Representatives of the Union of Burma’s Parliament (CRPH), which is made up of MPs from the ousted National League for Democracy.
She said the military’s relentless and excessive use of force showed that it was not in control of the country.
Zin Mar Aung added, “Our people are ready to pay any price to get back their rights and freedoms.”
“The streets of Yangon and many other parts of the country are now covered with yellow rosewood flowers, the New Year’s symbol of Buddhism, which most people believe in,” said Sai Sam Kham, a civil society leader. “Just as no one can stop the rosewood flowers from blooming, no one can stop the visions of young people who believe they are worthy of giving their lives for freedom and democracy.”
He said the people will not tolerate dictatorship or fake democracy.
“They are unyielding and are courageously defending their rights.”
Richard Horsey, a Burma expert with the International Crisis Group, assesses that Burma’s future is dire if the situation continues to spiral out of control.
“In short, Burma is on the verge of state failure or state collapse.” He warned.
The business community is at a standstill, he said, and that is having a ripple effect on Myanmar’s supply chain, which in turn could lead to food shortages. The health care system is in a state of collapse and, perhaps most concerning, ethnic armed violence is on the rise.
Council members have called for UN Special Envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener to be allowed to visit the country. For weeks, Burgener has been trying to get approval from Burma’s military government, but she tweeted Friday that they had denied her request.
The U.S. reaffirmed its solidarity with the Burmese people Friday.
“People of Burma, if you can see or hear – and our briefers certainly can – I want you to know that the United States stands with you,” said Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations. “We will do everything in our power, in coordination with our allies and partners, here in the Council and elsewhere, to help you respond to this terrible situation.”
She urged other Council members to take concrete action. She said the Burmese military has ignored the condemnation they issued.
“Do we allow the military to destabilize the region and plunge Burma into further violence and chaos, or do we listen to the voice of the Burmese people and help them achieve freedom, openness and peace in their country? We all know the kind of country they deserve.” She asked. “For me, the answer is clear. We must act.”
Council member Estonia said it was time for the Council to draft a strong resolution.
“The UN Security Council, the only entity in the world with the legitimate power to protect countries at risk, must explore all the tools in its toolbox to end this terrible situation,” said Estonian Ambassador Sven Jurgenson. “To that end, we should start drafting a resolution that also has the potential to foresee sanctions, especially a comprehensive arms embargo, to stop the atrocities. All countries must stop supplying weapons to the killers.”
Dozens of countries have already imposed bilateral arms embargoes on the Burmese military regime, but the Council has yet to take such action, most likely because the Chinese Communist Party will block the initiative.
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