UN envoy praised for anti-coup stand
Myanmar’s United Nations ambassador has spoken out against the military coup in his country and appealed for the ‘‘strongest possible action from the international community’’ to immediately restore democracy, in a dramatic speech to the UN General Assembly that drew loud applause from many diplomats in the 193-nation global body.
Kyaw Moe Tun began his statement yesterday by saying he represented Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) ‘‘civilian government, elected by the people’’ last November, and supported the fight for the end of military rule.
He urged all countries to issue public statements strongly condemning the military coup, to refuse to recognise the military regime, and to ask its leaders to respect the free and fair elections won by Suu Kyi’s party. He also urged stronger international measures to stop violence by security forces against peaceful demonstrators.
‘‘It is time for the military to immediately relinquish power and release those detained,’’ Tun said.
His voice cracking, he ended his statement by addressing people back home in Burmese, and raising a three-finger salute that has been adopted by the anticoup movement.
Tun’s surprise statement not only drew applause but commendations from speaker after speaker at the assembly meeting, including ambassadors representing the European Union and the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
The assembly meeting was called to hear a briefing from the UN special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, who said it was time to ‘‘sound the alarm’’ about the coup and the military pushing democratic processes aside, violating the constitution, reversing reforms instituted by Suu Kyi, who was previously the de facto head of government, and arresting peaceful protesters, civil society representatives and members of the media.
Burgener pointed to restrictions on internet and communication services, and the detention of about 700 people, according to
the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Myanmar. She called ‘‘the use of lethal force and rising deaths unacceptable’’.
The February 1 military takeover in Myanmar shocked the international community and reversed years of slow progress toward democracy.
Myanmar’s military says it took power because last November’s election was marked by widespread voting irregularities, an assertion that was refuted by the state election commission, whose members have since been replaced by the ruling junta. The junta has said it will rule for a year under a state of emergency and then hold new elections.
‘‘It is time for the military to immediately relinquish power.’’ Kyaw Moe Tun