New York, December 22 – A resolution adopted by the U.N. Security Council demanding Myanmar’s military government to end violence and release political prisoners has no teeth and may provoke further carnage in the country, said Thomas Andrews, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar.
“‘Demanding that certain actions be taken without any use of the Security Council’s Chapter VII authority, will not stop the illegal Myanmar junta from attacking and destroying the lives of the 54 million people being held hostage in Myanmar,” Andrews said in a statement, referring to the provision that allows U.N. peacekeepers to use force under dangerous situations.
“What is required is action,” said Andrews, as reported by U.N. News.
The 15-nation Security Council on December 21 voted 12-0, with three abstentions by Russia, China and India, to approve its first-ever resolution on Myanmar since the military overthrew the civilian government headed by Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021. But the adopted document specified no concrete action against the military government.
The resolution demanded the release all “arbitrarily detained” prisoners, including Suu Kyi, and to restore democratic institutions. The resolution also demanded that Myanmar’s opposing parties be allowed to pursue dialogue and reconciliation and urged all sides “to respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.”
Andrews admitted that it was “notable” that the council crafted and advanced a draft resolution that managed to avoid a veto by the council’s five permanent members. He said his objection of the weak resolution was made “with all due respect” to that body but the situation in Myanmar would worsen without, strong coordinated action.”
He called for “concrete and immediate actions” towards implementing a peace plan agreed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and for upholding “democratic institutions and processes.”
“The systematic gross human rights violations – amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity – being perpetrated daily on the people of Myanmar by an illegal military junta require strong, coordinated action by U.N. member states,” he said.
He said demands made by the council in the resolution, including an immediate end to all forms of violence, the release of political prisoners, unimpeded humanitarian access and respect for the rights of women and children – are “critically important.” But he said what was missing are “consequences for the failure to meet them and the imposition of sanctions and accountability for crimes the military has committed to date.”
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