JENEWA, KOMPAS.com – The people of Myanmar have high hopes from the United Nations and the international community after the February 1 coup.
Many of them have called for sanctions and some have urged the United Nations to send UN peacekeeping forces to stop the massacre by the Myanmar military.
This was conveyed in a video briefing to UN journalists from Myanmar’s largest city Yangon, by Acting Coordinating Humanitarian and Resident Andrew Kirkwood.
It also stated that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and other UN officials were very consistent about what Myanmar really needed. Namely the existence of “collective action of member states in the Security Council.”
“A firm and unified international response is urgently needed” to stop violence by the security forces and return Myanmar to a democratic path, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric again echoing Guterres’ message on Friday (19/3/2021). A.P.
“A lot of people were seen carrying placards that read: How many more bodies have to be? People are really looking for joint international action in terms of sanctions. Frankly, some people here want to see peacekeepers,” Kirkwood said.
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According to him, the people of Myanmar have great hopes for the United Nations and the entire international community.
“We are doing everything we can in the current situation, and there is still a sense of frustration among people because the international community has not done more so far,” he added.
The Myanmar coup has reversed progress in a slow democratic process in a country already under half a century of rule by the military junta.
During that period, the strict military government imposed isolation and received international sanctions.
As the generals relaxed their grip, culminating in Aung San Suu Kyi’s revival after the 2015 elections, the international community responded by lifting most of the sanctions and pouring investment into the country.
The UN Security Council said it strongly condemns violence against peaceful protesters and calls for “complete restraint” by the military.
The group also stressed the need to uphold “democratic institutions and processes.” The detained government leaders including Suu Kyi and President Win Myint were also asked to be released immediately.
But the statement was weaker than the initial draft circulated by Britain.
The UN Security Council was initially expected to condemn the coup and threaten “possible action under the UN Charter.” UN language for sanctions “if the situation gets worse.”
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Diplomats said council members China and India, both neighbors of Myanmar, and Russia and Vietnam, which along with Myanmar are ASEAN members, objected to the provisions in the previously put forward draft statement.
As a result, getting Security Council approval for UN sanctions or a downgrading of peacekeeping forces will be an uphill battle.
That’s because it will require support or abstention from China. The Beijing government is a veto-wielding board member, which has a policy against sanctions and is often referred to as a friend of Myanmar.
The UN also views ASEAN as a regional power to take the lead in ending the crisis.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), the leader of Southeast Asia’s largest economy, urged an immediate end to violence on Friday (19/3/2021) during a summit of ASEAN leaders on the coup.
ASEAN, currently led by Brunei, also faces internal divisions in agreeing significant action against Myanmar.
Without it, the death toll continued to rise as protesters refused to accept the coup.
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Kirkwood said at least 211 people had died in the seven weeks since the military takeover of government.
At least 15 children are among the victims. Some of them are 14 years old. He stressed that many had been killed by sniper bullets to the head.
At least 2,400 people have been arrested on suspicion of participating in the demonstration.
Most of these people are still being held without communication. In addition there are increasing reports of sexual violence against them.
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