In a recent development at the United Nations Security Council, nine member states have condemned the 'indiscriminate' airstrikes conducted by Myanmar's military against civilians. This condemnation comes as part of regional efforts to implement a peace plan that has proven to be largely ineffective thus far.
The peace plan, adopted in April 2021 shortly after the military seized power in a takeover that sparked a civil war, calls for an immediate cessation of violence, dialogue among all concerned parties, mediation by a special envoy from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), provision of humanitarian aid through ASEAN channels, and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to engage with all stakeholders.
Alounkeo Kittikhoun, a veteran diplomat from Laos and the special envoy to Myanmar from the current ASEAN chair, addressed a closed council meeting on behalf of ASEAN. Kittikhoun reiterated ASEAN's commitment to implementing the 'five-point consensus' for peace in Myanmar through continued 'quiet diplomacy.' This was reported by a council diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity as the meeting was private.
However, the military leadership in Myanmar has so far disregarded the peace plan, leading to an escalation of violence and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the country. Prior to the council meeting, nine out of the fifteen council members stood before reporters to support a statement read by Britain’s U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward. The statement echoed ASEAN's call for Myanmar's armed forces to cease their attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The military took control of Myanmar from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and has been facing resistance from an armed pro-democracy movement supported by ethnic minority fighting forces. Airstrikes by the military intensified after three ethnic minority armed groups launched a major offensive in late October, capturing towns in the country's northeast and key border crossings for trade with China.
The nine council members, comprising Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, South Korea, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, expressed deep concern over the situation. Three years after the military takeover, over 18 million people in Myanmar require humanitarian aid, and 2.6 million people remain displaced.
At an ASEAN ministerial meeting in January, Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith announced that Thailand was planning to provide more humanitarian assistance to Myanmar. The nine council nations reiterated the urgent need for improved humanitarian access.
Furthermore, the council members expressed increasing concerns regarding the situation in Rakhine state, which borders Bangladesh. Over a million Rohingya Muslims fled from Myanmar starting in August 2017, following a brutal military operation against them in response to attacks by the insurgent Arakan Army.
The Arakan Army is among the ethnic minority fighting forces in Myanmar. It was reported on Monday that more than 100 members of Myanmar's Border Guard Police had fled from fighting with the Arakan Army in Rakhine and sought refuge in Bangladesh. This is the first known instance of Myanmar forces fleeing the country since the ethnic minority armies' offensive began.
The nine council nations also highlighted the plight of the Rohingya who remain in Myanmar. These Rohingya have faced systematic discrimination for decades and are now subject to further restrictions on freedom of movement and lack access to essential medicine and medical care. The council members demanded the full implementation of the Security Council's resolution on Myanmar passed in December 2022, which calls for an immediate end to violence and the release of all arbitrarily detained prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi and former President Win Myint.
Myanmar's U.N. Ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, who still represents Suu Kyi's ousted government, urged the Security Council to adopt a stronger and enforceable resolution. He emphasized that democratic forces are gaining ground in Myanmar, while the military junta is losing support.
The council members, while deeply concerned at the lack of progress on the resolution's call to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Myanmar, did not reach a unanimous decision on next steps during Monday's meeting. Nonetheless, there was a shared concern about the escalating situation across the country, with the military fighting on multiple fronts and the risk of atrocities in Rakhine. Better humanitarian access was also deemed necessary.
The United States proposed an enforceable Security Council resolution to prevent the supply of jet fuel to Myanmar, according to a council diplomat. The U.S., U.K., European Union, and other nations imposed sanctions in 2023 on the provision of aviation fuel to Myanmar. However, Amnesty International reported that Myanmar's military has been using new tactics to circumvent these sanctions, making 2023 the worst year for airstrikes in the country since the military takeover.
During the meeting, China, which holds close ties with Myanmar, emphasized giving ASEAN's efforts sufficient time and space. Russia, also having links to Myanmar, reiterated its stance that the council should not interfere in the country's internal affairs.
As the situation in Myanmar deteriorates and the military continues its indiscriminate airstrikes, the international community remains deeply concerned about the well-being of civilians and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution. Efforts by ASEAN and the Security Council are ongoing, but it is evident that more decisive actions are required to bring an end to the violence and address the dire humanitarian crisis faced by millions of people in Myanmar.
