Burma: China rejects idea of sanctions despite fears of UN "civil war"
The Security Council met on Wednesday in an emergency and behind closed doors to discuss the situation in Burma.
Stephane LEMOUTON / POOL / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
The Chinese ambassador to the UN Security Council said Wednesday, March 31, during an emergency meeting devoted to Burma that, for Beijing, the sanctions would only worsen the situation.
This position of China, a permanent member, makes it very unlikely that any action will be taken.
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"
A bloodbath is imminent
", however warned UN envoy in Burma, during a closed meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday, estimating the risk of "
civil war
" high.
"
The cruelty of the military is too serious and many ethnic armed organizations are clearly showing their opposition, increasing the risk of civil war to an unprecedented level
," said Christine Schraner Burgener, urging the Council "
to consider all means at its disposal to take collective action and do the right thing ”
,“
to avoid a multidimensional disaster in the heart of Asia
”.
► To read also: Burma: the specter of a total civil war
But for China, there is no question of imposing sanctions on the Burmese military.
According to Beijing, they "
would only worsen the situation,
" Chinese Ambassador to the UN, Zhang Junet, said Wednesday at the emergency meeting requested by the United Kingdom.
Beijing, Burma's first supporter, advocates "
returning to a democratic transition in this country
".
If the diplomat expressed China's concern over the situation in Burma, "
violence and bloodshed do not serve the interests of anyone, and it is the people of Burma who are suffering from it,
" he said. he pointed out, hoping that "
all parties in Burma can remain calm, show restraint and take measures with a constructive attitude to defuse and calm the situation
".
Diplomatic dissensions
While the United States and the United Kingdom have just announced a
new round of sanctions
, China and Russia have so far refused to officially condemn the putsch.
At the end of the meeting, British Ambassador Barbara Woodward, for her part, reiterated the Security Council's determination to obtain an end to the violence and the return of democracy in the country.
"
The special envoy was very clear in describing what is happening on the ground in Burma, and it is very worrying,
" she said.
This is not only appalling because of the killings including of children, but also because of arbitrary detentions, human rights violations and pressure at the border which increases violence.
I think I can say that the Council has been united in its condemnation of what is happening.
So we continue to discuss the next steps, we have a series of measures at our disposal, but the main thing is to obtain an end to the violence, the release of those who are arbitrarily detained and the return of Burma to the country. path of democracy and stability.
These are the objectives on which we are focused and which we will discuss among Council members.
We will make sure that the Council speaks and also takes into account the views of those who are in the region.
"
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Burma
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