The need to end the conflict in Myanmar: Hannah’s Oral Statement

This is an oral statement by NCF Research Officer Hannah Orme that was submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 51st Session, Item 8. Hannah has delivered an oral intervention that emphasising the need to end the conflict in Myanmar and urge the government of Myanmar to allow humanitarian aid to enter the country.

Transcript

On the first of February 2021. The Republic of the Union of Myanmar had its democratically elected government replaced by a government appointed by the leadership of Myanmar’s military. This has resulted in an intensifying conflict between the military and pro-democracy opponents, including local militias known as People’s Defense Forces. The Next Century Foundation welcomes the recent visit of the United Nations Special Envoy to Myanmar and recent resolutions which emphasise the need to end the conflict. We encourage further peace talks to be held between the military, the civilian National Unity Government, and the People’s Defense Forces, with the goal of holding free and fair elections in the near future. The recent executions of four pro-democracy activists also highlights the need for Myanmar’s military to end the use of the death penalty. Furthermore, a quarter of Myanmar’s population is in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. And so we urge the government of Myanmar to allow humanitarian aid to freely enter the country. The Rohingya community in Myanmar has endured particular marginalisation and therefore, it is vital that any peace mechanism establishes protections for the Rohingya community, which would enable them to be free from persecution, and would allow Rohingya refugees to safely return. It should be remembered that Myanmar has transitioned from military rule to democracy before, with political reforms from 2010 onwards, and we recommend building on these past reforms. Thank you.