Myanmar risks coming to standstill, UN envoy tells SC

Published May 1, 2021
MOHNYIN: People take part in a candle light protest during a demonstration against the military coup. — AFP
MOHNYIN: People take part in a candle light protest during a demonstration against the military coup. — AFP

NEW YORK: The UN special envoy on Myanmar told the Security Council on Friday that in the absence of a collective international resp­onse to the country’s coup, violence is worsening and the running of the state risks coming to a standstill, according to diplomats who attended the private meeting.

Christine Schraner Burg­ener briefed the 15-member council from Thailand, whe­re she has been meeting with regional leaders. She still hopes to travel to Myanmar — where a Feb 1 military coup ousted an elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi — but the military is yet to approve a visit. Pro-democracy protests have tak­en place in cities and towns across the country since the coup.

“The general administration of the state could risk coming to a standstill as the pro-democracy movement continues in spite of the ongoing use of lethal force, arbitrary arrests and torture as part of the military’s repression,” Schraner Burgener said, according to diplomats.

The Assistance Associa­tion for Political Prisoners advocacy group says more than 3,400 people have been detained for opposing the coup and security forces have killed at least 759 protesters. Reuters is unable to confirm the casualty toll.

The military, which ruled for almost 50 years until launching a tentative refo­rm process a decade ago, has acknowledged the death of some protesters, saying they were killed after they initiated violence.

Schraner Burgener told diplomats that reports of a continuing crackdown risked undermining momentum toward ending the crisis following a meeting of the 10-member Asean on Saturday with the junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

She said there were also reports that civilians, mostly students from the urban areas, were being trained how to use weapons by armed organisations.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.