The State Administrative Council, the military junta that currently governs Myanmar, (CAE) is illegal and illegitimate, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Thomas Andrews, declared on Tuesday.
During a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, co-sponsored by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Andrews called out to the community international to deny the legitimacy of the State Administration Council, create a coalition of Member States that applies strong and coordinated sanctions, and support the Government of National Unity, which has greater legitimacy.
“Two years ago, the military overthrew a democratically elected government in an unconstitutional coup,” he explained during the presentation of his new report: illegal and illegitimate: Examining the Myanmar military’s claim as the government of Myanmar and the international response.
“The unrelenting violence that he unleashed on the people of Myanmar has created a widespread human rights, humanitarian and economic crisis and has fueled opposition across the countryyes”.
Badly Needed Sanctions and Help
“The bottom line is clear,” Andrews said. “The military coup of the (CAE) was illegal and his claim as (present) Government of Myanmar is illegitimate”. In fact, it is imperative new coordinated international response to the crisis before “sham elections” that are being planned, continued.
The rapporteur urged to all member statesparticularly those who have already imposed costs on the board,”to initiate a strategic approach to strengthen, coordinate and implement economic sanctions and an arms embargo to the CAE and provide more humanitarian aid to the millions of people who desperately need it.
During the event, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance presented its latest document that includes key points for holding genuine democratic elections in the new emerging constitutional context, including the electoral legal framework, voter registration and electoral dispute resolution. .
The ‘devastating’ situation on the ground
In an interview with UN News, the special envoy of the General secretary for Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, outlined the current situation on the ground. Citing recent reports, she claimed that 17.5 million people require humanitarian aid in 2023, compared to one million that they needed it before the seizure of power.
“The impact on both the country and the population has been devastating,” he said. “People on the ground are very clear that the humanitarian crisis due to a political crisis.
According to the World Bank, 40% of the population lives below of the line of poverty, Heyzer noted. Also 15.2 million people are currently food insecure and more than 34,000 civilian structures have been destroyed in the last two years.
A humanitarian catastrophe
“It is a catastrophe in terms of human suffering, and this has regional and international implications,” said the special envoy.
Noting that the recent adoption of resolution 2669 (2022) of the Security Council marked the first time the body had recognized Myanmar since its independence, he said it also reflected unity and support unprecedented international to extremely urgent issues.
Urgent call to action
The Special Envoy called for greater unity and commitment from the international community in three key areas: expanding the delivery of humanitarian aid, establishing a common position in the face of a possible call for elections by the military, and taking measures to increase the protection of civilians. in the country and refugees in the rest of the region
“It is inconceivable that any form of peaceful and democratic transition could be initiated by those who perpetrate harm against their own citizens,” he said. “The violence has to stop, including the aerial bombardments and the burning of civilian infrastructure, along with the continued detentions of political leaders, civil society actors and journalists by the military.”
