United Nations Secretary- General, Antonio Guterres has expressed concerns by Burmese military’s stated intention to hold elections amid intensifying aerial bombardment and burning of civilian houses, along with ongoing arrests, intimidation and harassment of political leaders, civil society actors and journalists.
In a statement attributed to the Secretary General Spokesperson on Tuesday to mark 1 February, two years since the military over- turned and arbitrarily detained members of the democratically elected civilian Government, including President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The UN Chief condemned all forms of violence as the multidimensional crisis continues to deteriorate and fuel serious regional implications, adding that without conditions which permit the people of Myanmar to freely exercise their political rights, the proposed polls risk exacerbating instability.
The Secretary-General said he will continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and to support their democratic aspirations for an inclusive, peaceful and just society and the protection of all communities, including the Rohingya.
The Secretary-General welcomed the 21 December 2022 adoption of Security Council Resolution 2669 (2022) as an important step and underlines the urgency for strengthened international unity.
As called for by the Security Council, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy will coordinate closely with the new Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair to engage intensively with all relevant parties in Myanmar to achieve an end to the violence and to support a return to democracy.
“The United Nations is committed to staying in Myanmar and addressing the multiple vulnerabilities arising from the military’s actions since February 2021.
“This requires full and unhindered access to all affected communities as well as prioritizing the safety and security of the United Nations agencies and its partners”.
The Secretary-General renewed his call for neighboring countries and other Member States to urge the military leadership to respect the will and needs of the people of Myanmar and adhere to democratic norms.
Report has it that since the coup launched in February 2021, military junta has imprisoned democratically elected leadership of the country and, in subsequent months, detained over 16,000 others, most of whom face specious charges in military- controlled courts, in flagrant breach of due process and fair trial rights, linked to their refusal to accept the military’s actions.
According to credible sources at least 2,890 people have died at the hands of the military and others working with them, of whom at least 767 were initially taken into custody. This certainly underestimation of the number of civilians killed as a result of military action.
A staggering further 1.2 million people have internally displaced, and over 70,000 have left the country – joining over one million others, including the bulk of the country’s Rohingya Muslim population, who fled sustained persecution and attacks over the past decades.
Credible information indicated that over 34,000 civilian structures, including homes, clinics, schools and places of worship, have been burned over the past two years. Myanmar’s economy has collapsed with nearly half of the population now living below the poverty line.