Burma: UN Security Council calls for release of Aung San Suu Kyi
Demonstrators hold signs during a demonstration against the military coup and demanding the release of leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Yangon, Myanmar, February 13, 2021. REUTERS - Stringer.
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It took almost two years after the military coup in February 2021 for the Security Council to vote on a resolution on the situation in Burma and demand the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Burmese file is brought by the United Kingdom to the UN, but the Chinese and Russian threats of veto did not prevent a Council resolution from being passed, a text which has the most weight at the United Nations.
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With our correspondent in New York
,
Carrie Nooten
Until now, the fifteen members of the UN Security Council were satisfied with formal declarations which weakened their message.
They finally show firm unity vis-Ă -vis the Burmese junta with this resolution.
UN Security Council adopts resolution on Myanmar.
The Council is deeply concerned at what's happening at the hands of the military:
👉demands an end to violence
👉immediate action to implement ASEAN's Five Point Consensus
👉respect for the democratic will of the people pic.twitter.com/LCf2NPGa4w
— UK at the UN 🇬🇧🇺🇳 (@UKUN_NewYork) December 21, 2022
The Security Council has not dithered this time: it is calling for an end to violence, respect for human rights, the release of all political prisoners, including
former leader Aung San Suu Kyi
and President Win Myint.
China and Russia simply abstained, allowing the text to be validated.
India, another country neighboring Burma, also abstained.
It is the fruit of long-term work and patience on the part of diplomats in Great Britain.
But the resolution was mainly demanded by the Asian countries members of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, according to British Ambassador Barbara Woodward.
â–ş
To read also: Asean summit: in a tense context, the organization is experiencing renewed interest
“
What has changed?
The situation in Burma has gotten worse and worse.
Arbitrary killings, aerial bombings, human rights abuses.
It is becoming increasingly clear to the rest of the world that this is having a destabilizing effect on the region.
And that's why we're seeing an increasingly strong response from ASEAN.
And the conclusions of the ASEAN summit, which asked the UN Security Council to act, had a decisive impact
,” she said.
The Council thus reaffirmed its support for ASEAN and its 5-point consensus plan.
It also asks the UN Secretary General or his envoy to produce a report by March 15, 2023. Finally, it is the first resolution on Burma adopted by the Council since 1948.
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To read also: Burma: one year after the military coup, the resistance does not weaken
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