Proposed UN resolution on Myanmar condemns military attacks on civilians
The takeover was met with massive public opposition, which has now turned into armed resistance and civil war | Photo: Shutterstock
Britain circulated a sweeping United Nations resolution on Myanmar, urging renewed peace efforts, condemning attacks on civilians, particularly by the Myanmar military, and calling for an end to the illegal arms trade.
The draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday, expresses concern about increased violence in Myanmar, which is struggling with a civil war between the military regime and the resistance.
Calls are made for safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access on a large scale’, expressing serious concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation and restrictions on humanitarian access in the country, which are leading to increasing food insecurity and hunger.
The proposed resolution warns that the current situation could further exacerbate discrimination, ethnically motivated violence, violations of international humanitarian law, human rights abuses and conflict-related sexual violence.
Myanmar’s military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021. It was the day parliament was due to reconvene after November 2020 elections, which her National League for Democracy party won by a landslide. The military claims without evidence that the results were based on fraud. Suu Kyi and her party members remain in custody.
The takeover was met with massive resistance from the population, which has now developed into armed resistance and a civil war.
The biggest challenge to the military regime is the ethnic minority militias and the Popular Defense Forces that support the main opposition party and have captured large parts of the country in fierce fighting in recent months.
The draft resolution emphasizes the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the 10-nation bloc whose 2021 peace plan has so far been rejected by Myanmar’s generals. It calls for an immediate end to violence and dialogue between warring parties, mediated by an ASEAN envoy.
The draft resolution calls for renewed efforts by ASEAN Special Envoy for Myanmar, Alounkeo Kittikhoun, and the new UN Special Envoy, Julie Bishop, to engage all relevant stakeholders in seeking a peaceful, inclusive solution to the crisis in Myanmar.
Negotiations in the Security Council on the draft resolution are expected to be tough.
The 15-member council passed its first-ever resolution on Myanmar in December 2022 by a 12-0 vote with three abstentions from Russia, China and India, all of which have ties to the Myanmar regime. India’s two-year term on the council ended that month, but Russia and China have veto power over permanent members of the council.
The proposed draft demands full implementation of the December 2022 resolution, which demanded an immediate end to violence in the Southeast Asian country and called on military leaders to release all arbitrarily detained prisoners, including Suu Kyi, and restore democratic institutions.
It also called on warring parties in the country to pursue dialogue and reconciliation and urged all parties to respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been edited by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First publication: Aug 28, 2024 | 09:48 AM IST