People of Myanmar want UN sanctions, peacekeepers: UN official

The people of Myanmar have high hopes from the United Nations and the international community following the February 1 coup, with many calling for sanctions and some peace to prevent the killings of peaceful protesters seeking a return to democracy from the United Nations It is urged to send soldiers. A UN official in the country said on Friday.

A Gandhian Way in Myanmar

Acting resident and humanitarian coordinator Andrew Kirkwood said in a video briefing to UN reporters in Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other UN officials are very consistent about what they really need : “Collective Collective Action in the Security Council.” UN spokesman Stephen Dujarric said Mr Guterres echoed the message again on Friday, stating that “a firm, unified international response to security, prevent violence by forces and return Myanmar to the path of democracy” Is urgently needed. “

“Many people must have seen that people are moving the placards and saying, how many more bodies?” Mr. Kirkwood said. “People are really looking for concrete action in terms of sanctions. Frankly, some people here want to see peacekeepers. “There is a huge expectation on the United Nations with the entire international community,” he said. “We are doing everything we can in the current situation and there is still disappointment among the people that the international community has not done much work till date.” The coup reversed years of slow progress towards democracy in Myanmar, ending under five decades of strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions. As the generals loosened their grip, after Aung San Suu Kyi’s rise to power after the 2015 elections, the international community reacted by removing most restrictions and putting investment into the country.

China is ‘very concerned’ for the safety of civilians in Myanmar

The Security Council adopted a presidential statement – one step down from a resolution – for the coup on March 10, strongly condemning violence against peaceful protesters and calling for “utmost restraint” by the military. It stressed the need to maintain “democratic institutions and processes” and called for the immediate release of detained government leaders, including Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.

The statement is undermined by the initial draft circulated by the United Kingdom, which would have condemned the coup and “possible measures under the United Nations Charter” – the UN’s language for sanctions – “should worsen the situation.” Diplomats said council members China and India, both Myanmar’s neighbors, as well as Russia and Vietnam, which are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with Myanmar, objected to the provisions in the first strong drafts of the statement.

Obtaining Security Council approval for UN sanctions or peacekeepers will be a difficult struggle. This is because it will require support from China or a veto-wielding council member who calls himself a friend of Myanmar and has a policy opposing sanctions.

The United Nations has also seen ASEAN as a regional power to try to end the crisis.

Protesters fought in Myanmar amid violent clashes

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, leader of Southeast Asia’s largest economy, on Friday requested an immediate halt to violence and called for a conference of ASEAN leaders on the coup.

Currently, ASEAN, headed by Brunei, also faces internal divisions in agreeing on significant action against Myanmar.

Without it, the death toll continues to rise as protestors refuse to coup.

Mr Kirkwood said at least 211 people have died in the seven weeks since the military takeover, including at least 15 children, 14 of whom are young. He insisted that many people were killed by a sniper shot to the head.

He said that at least 2,400 people have been arrested due to their suspected involvement in the demonstrations. “The vast majority of these people are still housed in incompanydo and there are increasing reports of sexual violence against them.” Before the coup, the United Nations was providing humanitarian aid to more than one million people, Mr. Kirkwood said. As a result of the coup, “We are indeed very concerned about an imminent humanitarian crisis.” “Two million people live under martial law in the industrial suburbs,” Mr. Kirkwood said. “Over the past few days, tens of thousands of people have fled those areas under martial law and have desperate interviews of the families they are carrying all they can, as they left the villages a decade ago to come into the city Can return ”

In addition, Mr. Kirkwood said, “The government health system has practically collapsed, with security forces occupying 36 hospitals across the country, and in some cases evacuating patients from those hospitals.” There is also a banking crisis that has caused major disruptions in the supply of chains and logistics, Mr. Kirkwood said, and food prices have risen by about 20% in some locations over the past month, mainly resulting in fuel shortages And transportation difficulties are encountered.