The Myanmar’s Call for Help.

Written by : Ikmal Fahmi

Date : August 03 2022

The continuation of Myanmar military junta’s coup since 2021 somehow has questioned the practicality of ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). The detention Myanmar civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi has caused uproar among the democracy supporters since then. New Straits Times reported the execution of four democracy activist by the military junta in June 2022. The four, Phyo Zeyar Thaw, Kyaw Min Yu, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw, have become the noble warriors of Myanmar people. The coup and killings are in contrast with the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) which recognizes the ASEAN citizen to civil and political rights.

During the military coup, several important world leaders fastly condemned the coup, urging the Myanmar’s military immediately to free Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi. But there were no concrete actions other nations might take. Later, the Biden administration, announced sanctions on Myanmar economy in late March simultaneously with the European Union. The US and EU has frozen all myanmar asset overseas to stop the coup.

On 24 April 2021, the ASEAN Leaders’ had a meeting on Myanmar’s military coup. They had come out with Five-Point Consensus. First, that all violence in Myanmar be halted immediately. Second, that parties concerned engage in constructive dialogue to seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the people. Third, that a special envoy of the ASEAN chair facilitate mediation of the dialogue process, with the assistance of the Secretary-General of ASEAN. Fourth, That ASEAN provide humanitarian assistance. Fifth, that the special envoy and delegation visit Myanmar to meet with all parties concerned. A year later, on 22 April 2022, Human Rights Watch announced that ASEAN has failed to meet the ‘5-Point Consensus’.

Myanmar rights to peace has been violated according to AHRD. In the report by Human Rights Watch, two days after the consensus agreement, the junta violated the agreement. The mass killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians continued. The Security forces have killed over 1,700 people, including at least 130 children, and arbitrarily arrested over 13,000. The military has run abusive operations in ethnic minority areas, displacing more than 550,000 people. The junta has blocked humanitarian assistance from reaching populations in need.

The appointment of Brunei’s second foreign minister, Erywan Yusof, as ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar last August had failed. His plan to visit Myanmar in October was canceled when the junta denied him access to Aung San Suu Kyi and other detained civilian leaders.

The future of refugees from Myanmar that fled to Thailand and other neighboring countries are in jeopardy. Human Rights Watch reported that the Malaysian immigration authorities transferred 1,086 of Myanmar refugees to the custody. Approximately, 800,000 people have fled their homes since the coup, according to a UN monthly humanitarian update published in June 2022. 758,000 people displaced within Myanmar and 40,000 who crossed into India. There were 288 refugees from Myanmar who were referred by the UNHCR in Thailand to the governments of third countries for resettlement consideration since the beginning of 2021, according to the UNHCR’s online database.

In summary, the ASEAN countries should work closely with other governments to develop a clearer approach to press Myanmar’s junta toward reform. The restrictions on Myanmar’s foreign currency revenues and weapons purchases should be increased. ASEAN should show its full support for a UN Security Council resolution, referring the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court, and imposing sanctions on junta’s military-owned companies.

References

https://asean.org/asean-human-rights-declaration/

https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2022/08/818335/asean-needs-get-tough-myanmar-junta-suspend-ties-if-need-be

https://www.nytimes.com/article/myanmar-news-protests-coup.html

https://asean.org/tag/five-point-consensus/

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/8/myanmar-refugees-in-thailand-endure-resettlement-wait

https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/02/24/malaysia-investigate-return-1086-myan