BANGKOK, March 17 — Looking at the current circumstances there is no prospect for a negotiated settlement in Myanmar’s political crisis, the United Nations’ (UN) Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer said.
Two years since the military coup, she said violence continues to escalate in several of the country’s ethnic areas.
She said recent reports stated that 28 civilians were killed by the military at a monastery in Southern Shan state days ago.
“The regime has accused resistance forces of violence while the National Unity Government (NUG) continues to point to the military’s brutality.
“The NUG has also condemned killings by the People’s Defense Force (PDF) warning resistance groups not to carry out inhumane acts.
“With both sides intent on prevailing by force, there is no prospect for a negotiated settlement,” Heyzer told the General Assembly in a briefing on Thursday (March 16).
Since the February 2021 military coup in which Myanmar’s generals ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, the UN stated that 1.6 million people have been internally displaced and 17.6 million need aid in Myanmar compared with just 1 million before the military coup.
It is estimated that 55,000 civilian buildings have been destroyed since the coup.
Meanwhile, she said a ‘four cuts’ strategy put in place by the regime, which seeks to block access to food, funds, information and recruits, continues to target civilians as collective punishment.
On the military’s Five-Point Roadmap — its exit strategy — which is supposed to conclude with elections, has been far from a pathway out of the crisis it has created.
Heyzer said the overall situation in Myanmar is seen as deteriorating.
“On February 1, the military had extended its State of Emergency to 47 townships and intensified the use of force to include more aerial bombing, the burning of civilian homes, and other grave human rights violations to maintain its grip on power,” she said.
On Asean’s role, Heyzer said she has been in close cooperation with Indonesia as the new Asean Chair and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.
“I have discussed with her (Retno) the urgency of concrete progress on the Asean 5PC to contribute to a conducive environment towards the path of national reconciliation.
“We have also discussed the possibility of a regional framework to protect the Rohingya and all refugees from Myanmar.
“I echo the call of the Secretary-General to Asean leaders at their November Summit to maintain open borders and provide protection and assistance to refugees from Myanmar, in line with the humanitarian and non-political nature of asylum, so that no refugee is forced to return to unsafe conditions in Myanmar. I look forward to visiting Jakarta to further advance our collaboration,” she said.
Heyzer and Retno briefed the UN Security Council earlier this week in a private meeting reinforcing this cooperation between Asean, the UN, and international partners.
“We stressed that the people of Myanmar must see concrete progress in the Asean 5PC, namely de-escalation of violence and unimpeded humanitarian aid towards alleviating the suffering of all communities,” she said.
The UN Security Council resolution complements the resolution of the General Assembly and is an opportunity to further develop a coherent international response to the crisis, promoting a Myanmar-led process reflective of the will of the people, the delivery of humanitarian assistance without discrimination, respect for human rights, addressing the root causes of the Rohingya crisis, and to work towards ending violence in all forms.
“As highlighted by the General Assembly and the Security Council, cooperation with regional organizations such as ASEAN, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the European Union is essential and close coordination with these organizations and their respective Envoys, as called for by this Assembly, constitutes a vital part of my work,” Heyzer said.
— Bernama
