UN General Assembly votes on resolution condemning the Burmese army | Military News

Myanmar’s UN special envoy Jue Meng Tun called for “effective collective measures”, including a comprehensive arms embargo against the country.

Diplomats said the United Nations General Assembly will vote on a non-binding resolution on Friday that condemns the Myanmar military government and calls on member states to curb the “influx of weapons” into a country ravaged by violence.

The vote will be held on the same day that the Council held informal talks on the situation in the country. The military overthrew the elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and seized power on February 1.

The draft resolution of the General Assembly obtained by Agence France-Presse was formulated after several weeks and was carried out after the talks between the Western countries and the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It acts as a mediator in a crisis.

A diplomat told Agence France-Presse on Thursday that the two sides will see the resolution passed by consensus rather than by voting on Friday.

The position of Myanmar’s main ally, China, remains unclear. The diplomat said that any country can request a vote, and Beijing can abstain from voting by then.

In mid-May, the first attempt to get the text on Myanmar passed was stopped so that Western diplomats could negotiate with ASEAN member states to obtain the greatest possible support for the initiative.

The initial effort called for “an immediate cessation of the direct and indirect supply, sale or transfer of all weapons, ammunition and other military-related equipment to Myanmar.”

But the new text is obviously more vague, calling on “all member states to prevent the flow of weapons into Myanmar.”

“Effective collective measures”

In a recent letter to the United Nations, Burma’s special envoy to the United Nations called for “effective collective measures” against the military because of the fatal suppression of dissidents for months, resulting in more than 860 deaths. .

Kyaw Moe Tun-who supports Comprehensive arms embargo on Myanmar -Enthusiastically rejected the coup d’etat on February 1st and ignored the military’s claim that he no longer represents Myanmar.

The United Nations still considers him a legitimate envoy of the country.

In principle, the Security Council is more likely to consider an arms embargo, which is binding in this case, but China’s veto makes this unlikely.

Yes, folks, that was US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin “sitting at the table” with Myanmar Secretary of Defense Myo Tun U at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting + pic.twitter.com/is54FeIwcb

— Bill Hayton (@bill_hayton) June 16, 2021

The draft resolution of the General Assembly called for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, the release of all detained civilian leaders, and the military “immediately stop all acts of violence against peaceful demonstrators.”

It also requires the implementation of a Five point plan Drafted by ASEAN in April, including the appointment of a special envoy for the group.

The text, co-sponsored by more than 50 countries, also called on the military to allow Christine Schraner Burgener, the UN Special Envoy in Myanmar, to visit the country and allow humanitarian aid to pass safely.

Even if diplomats continue to put pressure on the Myanmar generals, ASEAN officials continue to meet with Myanmar officials appointed by the military. Myanmar joined this 10-member organization in 1997, when the country was ruled by the military.

On Wednesday, Myathan U, an official designated by the Myanmar military government, attended the organization’s meeting of defense ministers. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also attended the meeting.

Human rights organizations and the Myanmar opposition have been criticizing the international community for providing legitimacy for the Myanmar coup by meeting with military officials.