Junta struggling to tighten grip
‘‘Civilians, mostly students from the urban areas, are now receiving training in the use of weapons.’’
Christine Schraner
Burgener, UN envoy for Myanmar
The strong, united demand for democracy by the people of Myanmar has created ‘‘unexpected difficulties’’ for the military in consolidating power after its February coup, and risks bringing the administration of the nation to a standstill, the United Nations envoy for the country says.
Swiss diplomat Christine Schraner Burgener told a closed UN Security Council meeting yesterday that her discussions in the region had ‘‘compounded’’ her concern that the situation in Myanmar wa deteriorating in all areas.
She pointed to a resurgence of fighting in ethnic areas, more poor people losing their jobs, civil servants refusing to work to protest the coup, and a brewing crisis of families in and around the main city, Yangon, being ‘‘pushed to the edge’’ for food, going into debt and trying to survive.
Burgener spoke by video from Bangkok after travelling to Jakarta to meet participants in the April 24 meeting of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), which includes Myanmar and was attended by the junta’s military commander, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
She said she again requested to visit Myanmar. Her previous requests have been turned down by the military.
Burgener said she planned to stay in the region in the coming weeks and remain in close contact with Asean members to support ‘‘the timely and comprehensive implementation’’ of the association’s ‘‘five-point consensus’’ on Myanmar’s crisis. This calls for the immediate cessation of violence, a dialogue among all concerned parties, mediation of the dialogue process by an Asean special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid through Asean channels, and a visit to Myanmar by the association’s special envoy to meet all concerned parties.
The security council yesterday again demanded the restoration of democracy in Myanmar and the release of all detainees, including elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and strongly backed calls by Southeast Asian nations for an immediate cessation of violence and talks as a first step toward a solution.
The February 1 coup reversed years of slow progress towards democracy in Myanmar, which for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions. The coup took place following elections last November, which Suu Kyi’s party won overwhelmingly and which the military contests.
Since the Asean summit, demonstrations have continued in many parts of Myanmar against the junta, as have arrests and beatings by security forces, despite an apparent agreement by Hlaing to end the violence.
Many demonstrators have expressed discontent at the Asean meeting’s outcome, especially its failure to demand the release of political leaders. Suu Kyi was arrested in the coup and is among an estimated 3400 people still being held.
Burgener cited ‘‘a resurgence of fighting in ethnic areas ... with reports of continued air strikes displacing thousands and killing innocent civilians’’.
She also noted ‘‘the reported use of improvised explosive devices’’ and ‘‘concerning reports that civilians, mostly students from the urban areas, are now receiving training in the use of weapons in the regions of the ethnic armed organisations’’.
Burgener said fatalities were rising every day, citing the latest figures from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners that more than 756 people have been killed and 3450 arrested, charged or sentenced.