GENEVA (1 February 2022) – One year after the Myanmar military
launched a coup, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
Myanmar released a video* featuring the voices of some of
those in Myanmar who have suffered greatly and are taking action to defend
their country.
Tom Andrews implored States to take a more robust course
of international action "before it's too late".
"Now is not the time for more rhetoric, it is time
for meaningful action," the UN expert said. "The international
community must take strong, meaningful steps to cut the junta's access to
weapons, funds and legitimacy."
Andrews reiterated the urgent need for the UN Security
Council to impose an arms embargo on the Myanmar military and stressed the need
to significantly increase financial pressure on the junta, as many in Myanmar
are doing with boycotts.
"The fact that one year has elapsed with no
Security Council Resolution imposing a comprehensive arms embargo — as arms
continue to flow to the junta and kill innocent people — is unacceptable,"
he said. "The people of Myanmar deserve better from the United
Nations."
Andrews said he would soon release a report that
identifies the weapons that continue to flow into the arsenal of the junta and
where they are from.
"The military junta is functioning as a criminal
enterprise, committing murder, torture, abductions, forced displacement, all
the while stealing the revenue and seizing the assets that rightfully belong to
the people of Myanmar," he said. "What is worse, they appear to be
getting away with it. Their attacks continue unabated. The suffering of the
Myanmar people is steadily increasing.
"Recent months have seen an even further escalation
of violence, and a campaign of terror now widespread across the country. I have
received more reports of mass killings, attacks on hospitals and humanitarian
targets, and the bombing and burning of villages," he added.
"Despite great risks and immense hardships, the
people of Myanmar are responding with courage, tenacity and an unwavering
commitment to save their country and their children's future. I am amazed at
the resilience of the Myanmar people. In the face of aerial assaults, and mass
arrest and torture, they continue to strike, to protest, to speak out and to
defend themselves. They need and deserve stronger support from the
international community," he said.
"On this first anniversary of the illegal coup by
the military junta, the best and worst of humanity is unfolding in Myanmar.
"As we mark this dark day and what amounts to a
military occupation of Myanmar, let the international community, and Member
States of the United Nations, offer not only words of concern, but strong
action. The people of Myanmar deserve nothing less," he said.
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