UN (AP) – Myanmar’s UN ambassador strongly opposed the military coup in his country and called for “the strongest possible action by the international community” to immediately restore democracy in a dramatic speech at the UN General Assembly that provoked loud applause from many diplomats from the 193-nation world body.
Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun began his statement by saying he represented the “people’s-elected civilian government” of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy in November and that he supported his fight for the end of the government. military.
He urged all countries to make public statements strongly condemning the military coup and refusing to recognize the military regime and call on its leaders to respect the free and fair November elections won by Suu Kyi’s NLD party. He also urged stronger international measures to stop security forces violence against peaceful protesters.
“It is time for the military to immediately relinquish power and release the detainees,” Tun said, agreeing with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that the military coup is not acceptable in this modern world and the coup must cease. “.
“We will continue to fight for a government that is from the people, from the people, for the people,” he promised.
Tun’s surprise statement not only generated applause but also praise from one speaker after another at the assembly meeting, including ambassadors representing the European Union, the Organization for Islamic Cooperation and the new ambassador of the European Union. United States, Linda Thomas Greenfield, who joined other people to describe her with words such as, “Powerful” and “brave.”
In his first appearance in the assembly since presenting his credentials in Guterres on Thursday, Thomas-Greenfield said the United States “sympathizes” with the people of Myanmar who are on the street protesting the coup. And he reiterated President Joe Biden’s warning that “we will show the military that their actions have consequences” and demand that the military “immediately relinquish power.”
In a later tweet, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken referred to Myanmar by its former name Burma and said “the United States praises Ambassador Tun’s brave and clear statement.” “Those who are making their voices heard in Burma. We must all heed his call to restore democracy in Burma.”
The assembly meeting was convened to hear a briefing from UN special envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener, who said it was time to “sound the alarm” about the coup and the military who set aside democratic processes, violating the constitution, reversing and reforming instituted by Suu Kyi, who was previously the de facto head of government, and arrested peaceful protesters, civil society representatives and members of the media.
According to the Myanmar Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners, he noted that there were restrictions on the Internet and communication services and the detention of some 700 people, and considered that “the use of lethal force and increased deaths are unacceptable. “
The huge protests in the country do not refer to a fight between Suu Kyi’s NLD party and the military, he said, “it’s an unarmed fight.”
Schraner Burgener, addressing diplomats in the General Assembly chamber by video link, urged “everyone to send a clear signal of support for democracy in Myanmar.”
The February 1 military takeover in Myanmar shocked the international community and reversed years of slow progress towards democracy. That day, Suu Kyi’s party would have been installed for a second five-year term, but the army blocked Parliament’s call and arrested it, President Win Myint and other members of his government.
Myanmar’s army says it took power because last November’s election was marked by widespread voting irregularities, a claim that was refuted by the state election commission, whose members have been replaced by the governing board. . The board has said it will rule for a year in a state of emergency and then hold new votes.
Schraner Burgener told the General Assembly that “democratically elected representatives could be sworn in according to the constitution on February 4 and have formed the committee representing Pyidaungu Hluttaw known as CRPH” and seeking to “fulfill their obligations.” of service to the people “who voted for them.”
Tun, Myanmar’s ambassador, began his statements to the assembly by reading a CRPH statement underlining the legitimacy of the election results, stating that the military overthrew the democratically elected government, citing mass opposition from the people and stressing that “Now is not the time for the international community to tolerate war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Myanmar military.”
The CRPH, claiming to represent some 80 parliamentarians, called on the UN, the Security Council and the international community to “aspire to build a peaceful and civilized world society to use any means necessary to take action against the Myanmar army.” and provide security for the people of Myanmar. “
China’s UN ambassador Zhang Jun, whose neighboring country has invested billions of dollars in Myanmar and is its largest trading partner, called on all parties to manage differences through dialogue. “under the constitutional and legal framework,” to prevent violence “and to continue to promote the process of national democratic transformation in an orderly manner.”
Never mentioning the military or a coup and describing what happened in Myanmar as “essentially Myanmar’s internal affairs,” he said the international community should help the parties “reduce their differences and solve problems.” .
Zhang supported the efforts of the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to which Myanmar belongs, “to play an active role in facilitating the current state of affairs.” ASEAN countries are discussing an informal meeting of foreign ministers and “look forward to their first convocation on the basis of consensus, thus providing a useful platform and opportunity to promote problem-solving. “, he said.