Myanmar rejects UN resolution urging arms embargo
20 June, 2021
Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday (Jun 19) rejected a UN General Assembly resolution calling for an arms embargo against the Southeast Asian nation and condemning the military's February seizure of power.
Myanmar described the resolution, which passed Friday and isn't legally binding, to be “based on one-sided sweeping allegations and false assumptions”. The statement issued in the administrative centre Naypyidaw said the Foreign Ministry had sent letters of objection to the UN secretary-general and the overall Assembly's president.
The resolution reflected a wide international consensus condemning the takeover that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. It called on the military junta to restore the country’s democratic transition, condemned its “excessive and lethal violence” because the takeover and called on all countries “to avoid the flow of arms into Myanmar”.
The resolution also known as on Myanmar's military to immediately and unconditionally release Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other officials and politicians detained following the coup, in addition to “all those who've been arbitrarily detained, charged or arrested”.
The measure was approved with 119 countries voting “yes”, Belarus - a significant arms supplier to Myanmar - voting “no” and 36 countries abstaining, including Myanmar’s neighbours China and India, along with Russia.
Myanmar’s UN ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, who in February denounced the military takeover, voted “yes” and urged the international community “to take the strongest possible action to immediately end the military coup”.
The Foreign Ministry statement said it considers Kyaw Moe Tun as having been dismissed from his position and noted that he has been charged with treason in Myanmar.
“Accordingly, his statement, participation and action in the meeting are illegitimate and unacceptable and Myanmar strongly rejects his participation and statements,” it said.
“While Myanmar embraces constructive advice by the international community in addressing the challenges that Myanmar is facing, any attempt infringing on the state sovereignty and interference in the inner affairs of Myanmar will not be accepted,” said the statement.
The better UN Security Council, whose resolutions are legally binding, has adopted several statements on Myanmar, including condemning the use of violence against peaceful protesters, calling on the military to restore the democratic transition and “exercise utmost restraint” and “on all sides to refrain from violence”.
But it hasn't had the opportunity to condemn the coup or authorise an arms embargo or other sanctions as a result of an almost-certain veto by China, and perhaps Russia.
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