Statement by Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the United Nations after adoption of the draft resolution (A/75/L.85/Rev.1) at the 83rd Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly
(New York, 18 June 2021)
Mr. President,
At the outset, I would like to thank Ambassadors of Liechtenstein and the EU as well as the core group for tabling of the resolution and their efforts and hard work for smooth adoption of the resolution.
I wish also to thank all delegations who supported the resolution.
In this regard, I would like to state the following points: -
First, Myanmar supported the resolution by voting YES (joining the consensus) because we believe that it will to some extent contribute to put pressure on the military to stop their inhumane acts in Myanmar and to further consolidate the people’s efforts for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar. However, the resolution is far short of our expectation. The people of Myanmar always wish that the international community including ASEAN would respect the desire and voices of the Myanmar people. It is imperative of engagement with all relevant stakeholders in Myanmar in particular representatives of the National Unity Government, the Ethnic Armed Organizations and CSOs.
Second, the resolution did not include some important elements such as imposing of arms embargos. The military is killing innocent civilians and peaceful protesters with lethal weapons and heavy artilleries most of which are imported ones. I hereby appeal all member states especially those are exporting weapons to the Myanmar military to stop selling them immediately. Selling weapons to the murderous military can be construed that they aid and abet the military to commit serious crimes such as crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and genocide.
Third, time is of the essence for the people of Myanmar to save lives of innocent civilians and to restore democracy in Myanmar. We are so disappointed that it took almost 3 months to adopt this watered-down resolution even though it does not include many important points to save lives of the people in Myanmar. On 26 February 2021, from this very seat, I appealed the international community to take strongest possible action to immediately end the military coup. In 100 days after the appeal, almost 900 people including many young people and children as young as 7 year-old girl were murdered. The people of Myanmar pointed out that if the international community including the United Nations had taken a decisive and timely action against the military, it would have prevented from loss of over 800 innocent lives of civilians.
Fourth, it is critically important that no country should support the Military and State Administrative Council (SAC) of Myanmar in whatsoever ways intentionally or unintentionally, directly or indirectly. Such support would encourage the military and SAC to commit further atrocities and inhumane acts against the people in Myanmar. Recently the Myanmar military forces burned an entire village of Kinma in the central part of Myanmar to the ground and those who could not run for their lives burned to death. This is not acceptable to us as well as the international community.
Finally, a strong and decisive action from the international community and the United Nations is needed immediately to save lives of the people of Myanmar and to stop the military brutality and inhumane acts in Myanmar. Therefore I urge the UN Security Council to look into the crisis in Myanmar seriously and take the strongest and most decisive action against the military and SAC without further delay.
I thank you, Mr. President.
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