Human rights experts: A year after the coup in Myanmar, new and stronger international action is urgently needed
Photo: © WFP/Kaung Htet Linn people collect rice in downtown Yangon, Myanmar.
A year after the Burmese military staged a coup, Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, implored the international community to take stronger international action "before it is too late."
"Now is not the time for more rhetoric, but for meaningful action," he said. The international community must take strong and meaningful steps to cut off the Burmese military junta's access to weapons, funding and legitimacy. ”
An arms embargo must be imposed
Andrews reiterated the urgent need for the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Myanmar's military and stressed the need to significantly increase financial pressure on the junta, as many in Myanmar are doing.
"A year has passed, and weapons continue to flow to the junta and kill innocent people because the Security Council did not adopt a resolution imposing a comprehensive arms embargo," he said. This fact is unacceptable. The people of Myanmar deserve better treatment from the United Nations. ”
Andrews said he would soon issue a report identifying weapons and their sources that continue to flow into the junta's arsenal.
"A military junta like a criminal enterprise"
"The Burmese military junta operates as a criminal enterprise, committing murder, torture, kidnapping, forced displacement, stealing revenues and confiscating assets that are supposed to belong to the Burmese people," he said. Worse still, they seem to be at large. Their attacks continue unabated. The suffering of the people of Myanmar is increasing. ”
"Violence has escalated further in recent months and terrorism has now spread across the country. I have received more reports of mass killings, attacks on hospitals and humanitarian targets, and bombing and burning of villages. ”
The resilience of the Burmese people is admirable
"Despite the enormous risks and great difficulties, the people of Myanmar have responded with courage, tenacity and unwavering commitment to save their country and the future of their children," he said. I was amazed at the resilience of the Burmese people. In the face of airstrikes, mass arrests and torture, they continue to strike, protest, speak out and defend themselves. They need and deserve stronger support from the international community. ”
Andrews noted that on the first anniversary of the junta's illegal coup, the best and worst of humanity is playing out in Myanmar.
"As we commemorate this dark day and the military occupation of Myanmar, let the international community and the States Members of the United Nations not only raise their rhetoric of concern, but also bring strong action," he said. The people of Myanmar deserve more. ”
The Special Rapporteur also released a video that included the voices of some Burmese who had been battered and were taking action to defend the country.
Special Rapporteur
The Special Rapporteur is part of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council. The special procedures are the largest independent expert body in the United Nations human rights system and are the umbrella term for the Human Rights Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanism, dealing with country-specific or thematic issues around the world. Special procedures experts work on a voluntary basis. They are not United Nations staff members and are not paid at the United Nations. They are independent of any Government or organization and serve the United Nations in their personal capacity.
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