August 23rd, 2022
A total of 864 civil society groups jointly issued a statement on August 22nd calling on the upcoming UN General Assembly, scheduled for next September, to revoke the powers of the current UN Special Envoy for Myanmar.
The call came after the UN special envoy visited Myanmar on August 16th. It states that the special envoy’s mandate is an ineffective way to resolve the severe political crisis in Myanmar.
The UN special envoy to Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, visited Myanmar on August 16th-17th and met with coup leader Min Aung Hlaing. This triggered a series of accusations from civil society groups, who sharply criticized the special envoy, saying her actions amounted to legitimizing the military council.
The civil society groups pointed out that the United Nations must end its conventional approach to the crisis in Myanmar and that efforts to broker peace with the Myanmar military through the special envoys have never produced significant results. Instead, they have provided legitimacy to those who have committed international crimes, thereby exacerbating the human rights situation and the humanitarian crisis in the country.
“We have asked that all who deserve to be involved in Myanmar’s affairs be involved and only recognize and then cooperate with the government that is accepted by the people of Myanmar. Attempting to resolve the current crisis by cooperating with the military council is not the right way. Instead, such actions only pave the way for the coup regime to commit more crimes, violate human rights and worsen the overall situation,” Saw Nanda Hsu, spokesperson for the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), which participated in the joint statement, told Karen Information Center.
After the trip, the special envoy UN clarified that her visit to Myanmar did not confer legitimacy on the military council, but the military council portrayed her meeting through state media and some other news outlets as a form of official recognition of its government.
The special envoy’s visit and talks will not only embolden the military council but also push the current illegitimate coup regime to commit even more brutal crimes against civilians. They will harm the people’s revolutionary struggle and ultimately violate the UN principle that no one should be harmed, civil society groups said.
The groups also recommended that the UN General Assembly act to resolve the current political crisis in Myanmar, focusing on accountability and concrete measures that reflect the aspirations and demands of the people of Myanmar.
In addition, the groups called on the UN Secretary-General to resolve the horrific human rights and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar and demonstrate his commitment through concrete action.
Prior to the UN special envoy’s meeting with the military council leader, she had met with civil society organizations in February and April.
The groups said they were appalled by the special envoy’s meeting with the junta leader, even though they had presented to the special envoy the wishes and aspirations of the people of Myanmar who yearn for a genuine federal democracy without the involvement of the military.
After the UN General Assembly revokes the powers of the UN Special Envoy, the UN Secretary-General must take the lead position in the Myanmar crisis to restore the dignity and prestige of the UN in the interest of the people of Myanmar.
At the same time, the UN Security Council must either hand over the current Myanmar issue to the International Criminal Court or establish a special tribunal and advocate for responsibility and accountability, according to the statement by more than 800 civil society groups.
In addition to the condemnations from the various civil society groups, the special envoy’s visit to Myanmar has also prompted a number of criticisms from some international organizations and resistance groups in Myanmar.
Sent by KIC.