UN Myanmar | The United Nations has stopped calling for a global embargo on weapons

The UN General Assembly has suspended its call for a global arms embargo against Myanmar’s armies, even though it has taken a strange step to call on member states to “prevent the flow of arms” after the February 1 coup.

A resolution condemning the coup calls for the military to “immediately stop all violence against peaceful protesters.”

119 countries approved it on Friday, and 36 abstained, including China, Myanmar’s main ally. Only one country, Belarus, voted against. It was backed by 50 countries.

“We must stand up for the protection of all basic human rights, such as freedom of expression, access to information and a peaceful assembly, which has been repeatedly violated by the Myanmar military,” said Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th UN General Assembly in Turkey. a statement.

At the meeting, UN Special Commissioner for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener warned the 193-member body that the country is “real in danger of a large-scale civil war”.

“Time is of the essence. The possibility of withdrawing property from the military is being reduced, ”Schraner Burgener said after the General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution.

Hundreds of thousands of refugees are fleeing the violence after clashes between the military and ethnic groups in the country.

Voting took place on the same day The Security Council was conducting informal talks on the state of the Southeast Asian nation, the military fired civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February.

The resolution was not adopted by consensus, as expected, but by vote, forcing all 193 UN countries to make their views known.

In a curiosity of history, Myanmar voted in favor of the text sent by Kyaw Moe Tun to the world organization. He has passionately denied the coup and dismissed the fact that the military no longer represents Myanmar. The United Nations still considers it a consignment.

After the vote, the diplomat lamented that the Assembly had spent three months making a resolution and not being more explicit about the arms embargo.

“The military continues to operate in its mischievous reality,” while denying calls to stop the violence, ”he said.

“People in the country and abroad are intent on stopping illegal military rule and restoring democracy.”

“Rare” move

Countries that abstained included Russia, Mali, a second military coup just under a year ago, Iran, Egypt, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

The UN General Assembly rarely takes calls to condemn military coups or to limit the supply of weapons to the target country.

“This is the most widespread and universal condemnation of the situation in Myanmar to date,” said Olof Skoog, the European Union’s ambassador to the UN.

“The EU is proud of the resolution recently adopted by the UN General Assembly. It sends a strong and powerful message. He delegitimizes the military junta, condemns the abuse and violence against his people, and shows his isolation from the world, ”he said.

The resolution calls for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar and the release of all arrested civilian leaders.

“We must fully create the conditions for the restoration of democracy,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres before voting on the resolution, with the aim of getting a “very clear message” from the General Assembly.

“Make it obvious”

He asks implementation of a five-point plan by ASEAN in April including the appointment of a block agent.

The text also calls on the military to allow UN representative Burgener to visit the country and allow humanitarian aid to pass through safely.

Burgener briefed the Security Council at a closed-door meeting in Myanmar on Friday. No joint statement was approved at the meeting due to the ongoing divisions between members, diplomats told AFP.

We need to raise the voice of those who have been silenced. We must stand up for the protection of all basic human rights that have been repeatedly violated by the military, including freedom of expression, access to information, and peaceful assembly. #Myanmar. pic.twitter.com/vbpSbjNo9A

– President of the UN GA (@UN_PGA) June 18, 2021

The resolution of the assembly “calls on the UN member states to make it clear: stop giving weapons to Myanmar,” Human Rights Watch said.

“Junta security forces for months and serious human rights violations have repeatedly shown why a government should not send them a single bullet. The UN Security Council should now strengthen and give its resolution to impose a global arms embargo on Myanmar,” said Louis Charbonneau of HRW UN directors.

The resolution is an opportunity to show that “the world is with the people of Myanmar and not the military” who have “committed horrific acts of violence against ordinary civilians,” said UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward.

The UN and the Association for the Support of Political Prisoners (AAPP) have reported that more than 860 civilians have been killed since the Myanmar coup.

On Friday, two people were killed when a military truck exploded near an office of an army-backed political party in one of the two explosions in the country’s Yangon city. Local media reported that a senior rescue official said six other people were injured.

The horrific fire was reported in Monywa, also the largest city in the Sagaing region, although the cause of the incident was not immediately determined.

# June18Group Monywa, Sagaing

SU MASIBOA

The fire broke out at the Ahlone Battalion Market near the Northwest Headquarters around 9:30 p.m., at rush hour and NOT BURNED.#What’s going on in Myanmar pic.twitter.com/Esn52AP1OH

– Shafiur Rahman (fishafiur) June 18, 2021