Myanmar Diplomat Cites Keys to Passage of Security Council Resolution

Published date23 December 2022
Publication titleASEAN Tribune

23 December 2022 (Voice of America) This week the U.N. Security Council passed its first resolution on Myanmar in 74 years, demanding the military junta immediately end violence in the Southeast Asian nation and free all political prisoners, including ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.

Junta allies China and Russia abstained instead of vetoing Wednesday's measure. On Friday, the junta's foreign ministry released a statement accusing the U.N. of 'exerting pressure to destabilize Myanmar rather than supporting the government's efforts.'

Earlier this month, the United Nations upheld the credentials of Myanmar's U.N. ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, who represents the previous civilian government. He welcomed the Security Council resolution, and in an interview Thursday with VOA he highlighted the efforts of Southeast Asian nations in helping to ease the opposition of Russia and China on the Myanmar issue.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

VOA: Why did the Myanmar junta's allies, Russia and China, decline to object to the draft resolution despite the fact they could have used their veto power as permanent members of the Security Council?

Kyaw Moe Tun: The strength of the ASEAN member countries, especially the roles of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, who listen to the voice of our Myanmar people, is very crucial. The pressure from ASEAN made the Security Council finally adopt the resolution.

Another thing is that the member countries of the Security Council are paying close attention to the concerns of ASEAN, which has always called for the involvement and support of the Security Council and the U.N. to solve the Myanmar crisis. That kind of demand from the regional group made it difficult for China and Russia to be against the resolution of the Myanmar crisis.

The members of the UNSC also closely consulted with ASEAN in the whole process of drafting the resolution on Myanmar. We can also see in the resolution that it asks the junta for immediate and concrete implementation of ASEAN's five-point consensus.

Therefore, after the Security Council approved the resolution on the Myanmar situation, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore released immediately their welcome statements. It is very important to us that Indonesia, which is actively leading in putting pressure on the junta in the regional group...

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