The United Nations Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar (formerly Burma) on Friday accused the military council of “mobilizing tens of thousands of soldiers and heavy weapons” in the north of the country, expressing fear of “atrocities”.
“We must all be prepared, as are people in this part of Myanmar, for further mass atrocities, “Tom Andrews told the UN General Assembly in New York.
He added that “these tactics” “are darkly reminiscent of those used by the military before the genocidal attacks against the Rohingya in Rakhine state in 2016 and 2017”, noting that he received information that a large number of forces were moving. in remote areas of northern and northwestern Burma.
According to a statement released by the UN Human Rights Council, Andrews, a former US parliamentarian, presented the conclusions of his annual report on the human rights situation to the UN General Assembly. in Myanmar.
According to this statement, since the coup launched in February, the military council has continued to commit “possible crimes against humanity and war crimes”.
And the American diplomat said: “I have come before this esteemed institution today to convey to you a simple request from the Burmese people: be aware of the catastrophe. in course and translate this concern in significant actions “.
The army, in power since the February 1 coup against the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi, has announced the release – in occasion of a Buddhist party – 5,636 people arrested during mass protests in the country after the coup Hundreds of political prisoners who had been pardoned were able to see their families.
On Friday, the military council again arrested more than 100 coup opponents, who had been released, according to a non-governmental organization.
The February 1 coup ended a ten-year democratic period. Since the coup, the military has conducted a bloody crackdown on opponents, during which more than 1,100 civilians have been killed and 8,400 arrested, according to the local NGO, the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners.
Suu Kyi was prosecuted for violating restrictions on the COVID-19 outbreak during last year’s elections, which her party won in a landslide, and for illegally importing walkie-talkies. She risks jail if convicted.
ASEAN rejects the military government
On Friday, the government installed by the army in Myanmar criticized the announcement by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to prevent its leader from attending next week’s regional bloc summit.
Myanmar said the statement by Brunei, which currently holds the league presidency, violated its group’s charter.
A statement released Friday evening by the Myanmar Foreign Ministry also clarified the reasons why it believes ASEAN has violated its rules by adopting tale action.
The 10-nation association’s move came after Myanmar refused to allow the association’s special envoy to meet with deposed leader Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the Myanmar military took power from her. government elected in February.
Since April, ASEAN has sought to play a mediating role in the Myanmar crisis, in one moment in attempts by the ruling army to crush the opposition have only led to an escalation of violence and a destabilizing resistance in the country.
The quarrel comes ahead of ASEAN’s annual October 26 summit, which includes high-level talks with world leaders like US President Joe Biden, as well as leaders from China and Russia.
The crisis of a month in Myanmar, the Corona pandemic still in course and security and political issues are in top of the agenda of the meeting, which will be held at a distance.
Western countries like the United States have strongly criticized the military government in Myanmar after the army seizes power and the bloody campaign it is waging against its opponents.
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