Myanmar: Timely support and action by Security Council ‘really paramount’, says UN Special Envoy

Speaking to journalists following her closed-door briefing to the Council, Christine Schraner Burgener described the situation in Myanmar as “very worrisome” and “very bad”.  

Alarming, on the ground

Some 600 people have been killed in the nearly five months since the coup, she said, and 6,000 arrested, with 5,000 still in detention.  Around 100 people have “disappeared” without trace.

The crisis has uprooted some 175,000 people, which has added to internal displacement that existed before the military seized power and detained political leaders, including President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. Roughly 10,000 refugees have fled to India and Thailand.

“I asked the Security Council for timely support and action; that it’s really paramount,” she said. “We have an alarming situation on the ground for all civilian people because the health system collapsed completely, and food security is also in danger.”

Ms Schraner Burgener warned that around half the population could be living below the poverty line next year if the situation continues.

“I urged the Council to speak in unity and especially against violence, and also that the political prisoners will be released as quickly as possible,” she said.

Questioned about the lack of Council unity on Myanmar, the Special Envoy responded that she has also held bilateral talks with ambassadors.  

“Clearly not all share the same position, what they should do together, but my role is always to urge them to show action and to be united,” she said.

Ms Schraner Burgener further reported that violations have increased in Myanmar, while violence is occurring in regions where it had not occurred before.

Discussions and dialogue  

She said violence has also emanated “from the ethnic armed organizations who were attacked also by airstrikes from the army, or keep people from other regions under their protection, and therefore I think it’s important that we have an all-inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders”.

“I am in contact with almost every ethnic armed organization to discuss how we can solve the overall problem in the country to find a peaceful solution. And I’m sure talking is always better than violence.”

Ms Schraner Burgener will brief the UN General Assembly later on Friday, and will continue her engagement in the region.  She said she recently had an “open discussion” in Jakarta with the military’s commander-in-chief, and expressed hope that talks will continue.

“Clearly, I can imagine that he would not like to see me now in Myanmar because the people know me…and they would probably be very encouraged by my presence, so I think this is not in the interest of the army,” she said.  

“But as long as I can have contact with them, that is the most important thing. And I will soon also contact them again to bring them also in a dialogue.”

General Assembly resolution

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in New York on Friday which condemns the military’s use of lethal force and violence, and supports the efforts by the Special Envoy and regional bloc ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The UN has 193 Member States and 119 voted in favour of the resolution while one, Belarus, voted against it, and 36 abstained.

Speaking ahead of the vote, General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir said countries have borne witness to the deteriorating situation in Myanmar.

“From the collapse of civilian rule, to arbitrary arrests, and indiscriminate attacks against civilians by the military, Myanmar is not a safe place for the people whom we have pledged to serve,” he said.  “As a result of the deteriorating political situation, humanitarian needs are growing.”

Mr. Bozkir also drew attention to the broader impact of the crisis, which he said also affects the more than one million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar who have found shelter in Bangladesh.

“They need their rights to citizenship and to freedom of movement to be upheld. Voluntary, dignified, and safe return is the ultimate goal, but this is contingent on conditions in Myanmar rapidly improving,” he said.

The General Assembly President stated that the international community must continue to stand united in support of the people of Myanmar, and for peace and stability in the country.

“A system built on brutality and bloodshed will not survive,” he said. “It is not too late for the military to reverse the negative trajectory on the ground, exercise restraint, and respect the will of its own people.”