UN Security Council should build on its December 2022 resolution Myanmar By adopting concrete measures to hold the public accountable for ongoing abuses, Human Rights Watch said. The Council will hold a session on Myanmar on March 13, 2023, and hear reports by Nolin Hezer and Retno Marsudi, Special Envoys of the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar. Indonesian Foreign Minister and Head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Office of the Special Envoy on Myanmar.
Security Council members should consider December resolution on Myanmar, which condemned the military’s rights violations since the February 1, 2021 coup, as the first step to reinvigorate global scrutiny of the junta’s atrocities. The Council should take meaningful action under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, including establishing a global arms embargo, referring the country’s situation to the International Criminal Court, and imposing targeted sanctions on the junta leadership and military-owned companies.
“Myanmar’s junta has demonstrated that it is impervious to condemnation or statements of concern,” said louis charbonneau, United Nations director at Human Rights Watch. “The defiance of the Security Council’s December resolution shows the need for a new resolution that would introduce stronger measures such as an arms embargo and targeted sanctions against senior military officials and companies affiliated with the military.”
Since December, the junta security forces have killed at least 263 people from artillery shelling, air strikesAnd arson attacks as well as the villages Torture, Rape and Execution In custody, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). authority have arrested at least 486 people and Sentenced At least 401 in the same period, including teachers, monks, doctors and nurses, lawyers, National League for Democracy (NLD) legislators and party officials, and aid workers.
Most of the accused face sentences ranging from 10 years to life in prison under “terrorism” or “incitement” provisions, or extended by the junta. widespread criminalization opposition movement.
junta is committed widespread and systematic abuse against civilian populations – including extrajudicial killings, torture, and wrongful imprisonment – that amount to crimes against humanity, Many attacks on civilians and villages are evident war crimes, Security Force from February 2021 have killed More than 3,000 people and more than 20,000 were arrested arbitrarily.
In February, the junta extended its built-in emergency for additional six months in advance declare martial law Transferring all executive and judicial powers to the head of the relevant regional military command, in 40 new townships in several states and territories.
The December Council resolution called for “full, secure and unhindered humanitarian access”, expressing deep concern over the “increasingly large number of internally displaced persons and a dramatic increase in human need. However, the Myanmar junta is increasing obstructions Humanitarian aid to prevent aid from reaching needy populations as a form of collective punishment. Since the resolution was adopted, military Operation in the south-east and north-west have been displaced More than 150,000 civilians, bringing the total number of people displaced since the coup to 1.3 million. armed struggle Affected About 80 percent of the townships in the country.
The December resolution included several references to ASEAN, which adopted a “five-point consensus” in April 2021 in response to the Myanmar coup. Junta Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has since rejected each point Consensus exploiting the international community’s respect for regional blocs. As this year’s ASEAN Chair, Indonesia route must be changed The bloc’s approach seeks to more effectively isolate the Myanmar junta while seeking ASEAN support for additional Security Council measures and cooperation with other countries’ efforts to stem the flow of revenue and arms.
Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said, “The generals have implemented a scorched earth policy in an attempt to quell the protests.” informed of earlier this month. “Encouraged by continued and complete impunity, the army has shown consistent disregard for international obligations and principles. Urgent, concerted action is needed to end this horrific catastrophe.”
Members of the Security Council, in light of the junta’s apparent non-compliance with ASEAN’s five-point consensus and December’s resolution, will use today’s session to discuss concrete steps to combat gross violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law should be done to identify
“The UN special envoy and the Indonesian foreign minister should make clear to the members of the Security Council that the junta’s killings, torture, illegal arrests and war crimes demand more targeted action,” Charbonneau said. “Cutting off the junta’s funding and arms supply is an important next step in stopping the atrocities being committed every day in the country.”