53rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council
Item 4: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar (oral progress report)
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Oral statement delivered by Ahmed Adam
On behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
6 July 2023
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Mr. President,
More than two years into the illegal coup attempt by the Myanmar military, the people of Myanmar have advanced their brave resistance against the junta with virtually no help from the outside world.
The UN and the international community continue to rely on the ASEAN and its so-called five-point consensus which after more than two years have produced no results other than prolonging the junta’s violence. ASEAN has no capacity, a common position or political will to resolve the crises in accordance with the will of the people of Myanmar.
Myanmar’s neighbouring countries in the meantime have engaged exclusively with the junta, in complete disregard for the demands of the people of Myanmar, for their own self-serving political and economic interests disguised as attempts to resolve the crisis.
Such engagement will only embolden and enable the junta to continue its mass atrocity crimes with total impunity while making those who engage with the junta complicit in its crimes.
In 2022, Myanmar recorded the highest number of incidences of violence targeting civilians anywhere in the world. The military junta’s all-out war against the people only intensified following the UN Security Council Resolution 2669, demonstrating its total disregard for international law. Despite this, the UN Secretary General and the Security Council have remained silent.
The UN must no longer neglect the Myanmar crisis and rely solely on ASEAN or regional partners to end it. The minimum that the people of Myanmar can expect from the UN is a Security Council resolution under the Chapter 7 of the UN Charter imposing a comprehensive global embargo weapons and dual-use goods including aviation fuel on Myanmar and targeted sanctions on the junta leadership and their affiliates and referring Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Thank you
