United Nations. Britain has circulated a comprehensive UN resolution on Myanmar to member states, urging a renewed peace effort, condemning attacks on civilians, particularly by the military, and calling for a halt to illicit arms trafficking. The draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday, expresses “concern at escalating violence in Myanmar.” Myanmar is mired in a civil war between the military regime and resistance forces.
The resolution calls for facilitating “safe, rapid and unhindered access to large-scale humanitarian assistance” and expresses “grave concern” over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country and restrictions imposed on the delivery of aid. It says such a situation is leading to increasing hunger in the country. It warns that the current situation is likely to further increase discrimination, ethnic-based violence, violations of international humanitarian law, human rights abuses and sexual exploitation in conflict areas. Ethnic minority armed forces, including pro-democracy guerrillas and the Arakan Army, are fighting to oust the country’s military rulers.
The army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on 1 February 2021. Suu Kyi and members of her ‘National League for Democracy’ party were arrested and have not been released yet. After the army seized power, there was massive public protest which later turned into a civil war. The draft resolution emphasizes the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ‘ASEAN’. This organization is a group of 10 countries whose 2021 peace proposal was rejected by the Myanmar generals. The resolution advocates immediate cessation of violence and dialogue between the two sides through the ASEAN ambassador.
