UN Security Council calls for release of Aung San Suu Kyi

First modification: 22/12/2022 – 14:39

With RFI’s New York correspondent, Carrie Nooten.

Until now, the 15 members of the UN Security Council were content with formal statements that distorted their message. With this resolution, they finally show firm unity against the Burmese junta.

The Security Council has not wavered this time: it demands an end to the violence, respect for human rights and the release of all political prisoners, including former leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.

Important role of ASEAN

China and Russia only abstained, which allowed the text to be validated. India, Myanmar’s other neighbor, also abstained. It was the result of a long and patient effort by British diplomats. But the resolution was requested mainly by Asian member countries of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, according to British Ambassador Barbara Woodward.

“What has changed? The situation in Burma is getting worse. Arbitrary killings, aerial bombardments, human rights violations. It is becoming increasingly clear to the rest of the world that this has a destabilizing effect on the region. And that is why we are seeing an increasingly strong response from ASEAN. And the conclusions of the ASEAN summit, which called on the UN Security Council to act, had a decisive impact,” the ambassador said.

The Council thus reaffirmed its support for ASEAN and its 5-point consensus plan. It also asks the UN Secretary General or his envoy to prepare a report before March 15, 2023. This is the first resolution on Burma adopted by the Council since 1948.

In addition, Cambodia announced that an “informal” meeting to try to resolve the crisis will be held in Bangkok on Thursday, in the presence of the ASEAN regional envoy and the Burmese Junta foreign minister.