Children at a monastery in Myanmar
Washington: The Governments of eight nations – the United States of America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union (EU) today asked Myanmar’s military regime to implement in full the ASEAN Five Point Consensus.
In a joint statement to address the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, these nations demanded Myanmar’s military regime release all those arbitrarily detained and called on all parties to create space for meaningful and inclusive dialogue so that democracy can be restored in full. They expressed their resolve to support all those committed to working peacefully towards an inclusive, non-violent, and democratic future for the people of Myanmar.
The statement said these countries were “deeply concerned by the escalating conflict in Myanmar and in particular the increasing harm to civilians, which is driving a worsening and devastating human rights and humanitarian crisis across the country”.
Since the February 2021 coup d’état, the number of people in humanitarian need has risen from 1 million to 18.6 million, and the statement claimed there were credible reports of violations and abuses committed against the civilian population, including airstrikes on homes, schools, places of worship and hospitals, torture, the use of civilians as human shields, and sexual and gender-based violence against women and children.
“As the conflict continues to escalate, communities across Myanmar are being subjected to further displacement,” it said and noted that Myamar’s military regime was “systematically restricting” access to life-saving humanitarian assistance.
“We are concerned about growing water and food shortages and the widespread denial of access to healthcare, medicines, and vital humanitarian services. The continued blocking of roads and telecommunications in areas of conflict is hindering humanitarian delivery and access to information,” these countries stated.
Across Myanmar, more than 1,000 civilians were killed or maimed by landmines in 2023 and casualties are rapidly growing. Increasing numbers of people are being trafficked and held against their will. “All parties must ensure that they are prioritising the protection of civilians,” the statement said, expressing concerns over the military regime’s implementation of the 2010 conscription law which was increasing the number of displaced people. This measure continues to attempt to divide communities and fuel identity-based violence across Myanmar, these countries claimed.
“In Rakhine State, towns and villages have been consistently targeted by the military regime and armed groups. We are concerned by recent reports of high levels of displacement in Buthidaung. We call on all armed actors to ensure the protection of civilians. Deliberate use of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech is stoking sectarian and intercommunal conflict. Reports of forced recruitment, including of Rohingya, are further dividing communities, and exploiting tensions and mistrust. All populations are facing extreme levels of food insecurity. The situation is increasingly dangerous for all civilians, including Rakhine, Rohingya, and other ethnic communities. There must be accountability for all atrocities committed in Myanmar. We recall the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures order and the need for compliance with it, to safeguard human rights and prevent violations,” the joint statement said.
Welcoming the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2669 on the situation in Myanmar, it called for an immediate end to all forms of violence and urged all parties to respect human rights and to allow full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access. It also welcomed the appointment of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar (UNSE) and unified efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), UNSE, and regional actors to resolve the crisis.
The statement reiterated the need for strengthened UN leadership in Myanmar and called on all States to prevent or cease the flow of arms or military and dual-use material, including aviation fuel to the Myanmar military.
– global bihari bureau
