Myanmar: UN resolution ups pressure on military and business partners

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Responding to the adoption of a resolution on Myanmar by consensus at the UN Human Rights Council, Amnesty International’s Representative to the UN in Geneva, Hilary Power, said:

“Speaking with one voice today, the UN Human Rights Council has sent a clear and unequivocal message to the Myanmar military that they must halt their violations, and to businesses with ties to military-owned companies in Myanmar that they must end those partnerships immediately.

As the military further escalates its all-out assault, the people of Myanmar cannot wait another day for justice
Hilary Power, Amnesty Representative to the UN in Geneva

“UN member states have tasked the UN human rights office to investigate the economic interests and business ties of the Myanmar military, and report back to the Human Rights Council with a comprehensive report and recommendations.

“Now it remains for the UN Security Council to move beyond statements of concern, and take the long-overdue action needed to halt violations and hold perpetrators to account.

“We urge all members of the Security Council to set aside politics and stand with the people of Myanmar – and not the generals ordering daily killing sprees against peaceful protesters, bystanders and political opponents.

“The Security Council must urgently refer the situation to the International Criminal Court and impose, without further delay, a comprehensive global arms embargo and targeted financial sanctions on senior military officials responsible for atrocity crimes.

“As the military further escalates its all-out assault, the people of Myanmar cannot wait another day for justice.”

Background

On 24 March, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution on the human rights situation in Myanmar by consensus.

In September 2019, the former Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) on Myanmar presented a detailed report to the UN Human Rights Council on the economic interests of the Myanmar military, in which they identified businesses with commercial ties to the military-owned Myanma Economic Holdings Public Company Limited and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEHL and MEC).

The resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council today recalls the recommendation made by the FFM that no company active in Myanmar or with business links to Myanmar should do business with the Tatmadaw or one of their business entities, until and unless those businesses are restructured and transformed.

The resolution also mandates the UN human rights office to follow up on the findings and recommendations of the FFM’s 2019 report on the economic interests of the military, and to report back to the Human Rights Council on a regular basis and to deliver a comprehensive written report in September 2022.

The resolution renews the important mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, and puts in place more comprehensive and regular monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation on the ground, by the Special Rapporteur and the UN human rights office. Both actors have been asked to keep the Human Rights Council and “other United Nations bodies,” including the Security Council, updated.

Amnesty International’s Military Ltd. report, published in September 2020, demonstrates how a number of the international and local companies identified in the FFM’s report have been linked to the financing of Myanmar’s military units implicated in crimes under international law. Since then, the Myanmar military (individual members and units of which are shareholders of MEHL) has been involved in the commission of serious human rights violations and crimes under international law following the military coup of 1 February 2021.

Many of the companies that Amnesty International and the FFM urged to end business ties with MEHL have not yet done so, including South Korean steelmaker POSCO and Chinese Wanbao Mining, which continue to operate in Myanmar in partnership with the military.

https://www.amnesty.org/

Daily Briefing in Relation to the Military Coup

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Updated 24 March 2021

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) has documented and identified (275) heroes killed yesterday (March 23), and (12) heroes killed today. However, one person previously included in the list of casualties was removed today, details further below. Therefore, (286) heroes have been killed so far. That number is documented and verified by AAPP, and the actual number of casualties is likely much higher. We will continue adding as and when.

As of March 24, a total of (2906) people have been arrested, charged or sentenced in relation to the attempted military coup on February 1. Of them, (24) were convicted. (109) have been charged with a warrant and are evading arrest, and (394) were released as of yesterday. (628) people, including students and civilians, were released across Burma today. The names of today’s released detainees have not been immediately available to compile. Therefore, we will provide the list of names who were released and remain in prison.

The silent strike, so-called “the silence is the loudest cry” was held across Burma today to protest this military dictatorship. Nobody left their homes, shops and shopping centers closed and no cars or people were seen on the roads. Demonstrating the general public’s solidarity against dictatorship. Only some sit-down strikes were held because they did not know about the silent strike campaign from lack of internet connection.

Ko Man Swin Khaing (a.k.a Wai Yan Maung Maung) was removed from the fatality list. He was shot in the thigh and disappeared during the North Okkalapa strike. His family members went to hospitals, police stations, and Insein Prison to investigate, but no further information was found, his family therefore assumed he died and held a funeral for him on 7 March. This is why his name was added to the AAPP fatality list, he is since included in the release list today. AAPP sincerely apologizes to all people, including the victim, and those citing our data with trust.

While people adhered to the silent strike, the military junta last night went around communities and announced with loudspeakers the country was in a stable condition with no danger, and that people should carry on their daily lives as usual. At the same time, more than 600 students and civilians were released. The released raised the three finger salute on their way home to show solidarity with the people and opposition to the military dictatorship.

However, according to AAPPs confirmed data, over 2000 detainees are still detained, sentenced, or face outstanding warrants. The junta coup continuously arrests, and today the military and so-called police raided Kyauk Myaung in Tamwe township, Yangon and captured the people there. Furthermore, they yelled and threw sound grenades, opening fire with live bullets onto Myanandar 13th Street, Yankin township and raided two houses, attacking and detaining 17 people including a 14-year old 8th Grade student.

The coup junta commits these crimes against humanity, brutally arresting children, taking away dead bodies. Last night, they attempted to loot the body of a 7-year-old child who was shot and killed by the junta in Mandalay. Family members of the killed child were able to escape with the body of the child, in response the junta destroyed the house in rage. Moreover, the junta beat the head of the child’s brother with a gun, tortured and  dragged him away. There has been no further news and he is assumed dead by his family. Such incidents are extreme human rights violations, children and their lives are given no dignity, constant threats to their security and education.

AAPP will continue to keep you informed of verified daily arrests, charges, sentences and fatalities in relation to the attempted coup, and update our lists to the details of these alleged offences. If you receive any information about detentions of, or charges against CSO leaders, activists, journalists, CDM workers and other civilians in relation to the military and police crackdown on dissent. Please submit to the following addresses:

If you need legal assistance, contact Aung Gyi on 09 451 529 000 from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) and lawyer Khin Thida Lai Lai Htun on 09 774 081 585.

“Our uprising must succeed”

Email :   info@aappb.org

Facebook : https://web.facebook.com/burmapoliticalprisoners/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/aapp_burma

In Solidarity,

AAPP

Download link for fatality list Total Fatality Lists_English (Last Updated on 24 March 2021)MP

Download link for Total Detention, Charge and Fatality Lists_English (Last Updated on 24 March 2021)MP

Human rights situation in Myanmar​ (March 15 -21)

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Over the last week, crackdowns continued to be heavily enforced by the #Tatmadaw. Mass destruction occupies the streets of urban and rural areas as barricades are torn down, and those resisting are shot by the junta. Martial law, a mobile shutdown and more in our weekly summary.

MYANMAR CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS COMMEND UN ACTING RESIDENT AND HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR IN MYANMAR, MR. ANDREW KIRKWOOD’S CALLS FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION BY THE MEMBERS OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL

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For Immediate Release

[22 March 2021] Progressive Voice and its partner organizations commend the remarks made by the Acting Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the United Nations in Myanmar, Mr. Andrew Kirkwood calling for “collective Member State action at the Security Council.” We reiterate our call for the UN Security Council to immediately dispatch an enhanced monitoring and intervention mission to Myanmar to stop the abhorrent lethal violence that is being inflicted with total impunity against peaceful protesters and to end the terror campaign against the population by the illegitimate military junta throughout the country.

Mr. Kirkwood on 19 March, 2021 during a briefing to the UN press, echoed civil society calls for concerted action at the UN Security Council stating, “people are really looking for concerted international action in terms of sanctions and frankly some people want to see peacekeepers… What we need is Member State action and collective Member State action at the Security Council.”

“We welcome remarks made by the UN representative in Myanmar, Mr. Andrew Kirkwood, reflecting the situation on the ground and calling on concerted action by UN Member States at the Security Council. As stated by Mr. Kirkwood, the situation on the ground is dire and as he rightfully put it, ‘could get worse and spin totally out of control.’ As the Myanmar military and its related security forces slaughter hundreds of peaceful protesters and commit crimes against humanity with total impunity, it is unconscionable for the international community, and in particular the UN Security Council, to continue to be paralyzed with inaction,” said Khin Ohmar of Progressive Voice.

Nearly 500 Myanmar civil society organizations have made repeated calls for the UN Security Council to immediately dispatch an enhanced monitoring and intervention mission to Myanmar to stop the violent attacks by the junta against peaceful protesters, prevent further bloodshed and loss of life and release all those arbitrarily detained. In addition, they called for the Security Council to urgently impose a coordinated, global arms embargo on Myanmar and refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court to hold the military regime to account for the atrocity crimes that it has committed and is continuing to commit.

In addition, Mr. Kirkwood in addressing the press stated that a “slow burning food crisis” is unfolding in Myanmar. Such remarks are serious warning signs of challenges ahead, and thus, the UN Country Team in Myanmar must urgently act to prevent such a food crisis and ensure humanitarian needs are met on the ground.

“We have repeatedly called for the UN Security Council to intervene, to immediately act to save lives. Inaction by the international community will only further embolden the military to continue to act with total impunity. Prolonging inaction will lead to further suffering on the ground for the people of Myanmar who are starting to face food shortages, in addition to ongoing blatant and deliberate attacks by these criminals,” said Nai Aue Mon of Human Rights Foundation of Monland.

Echoing these calls, Ko Ting Oo of All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress stated, “On average, five people have been murdered by the military every day since the start of the coup on February 1. At least 250 lives have already been taken. With each day that passes without action, more innocent lives, mostly youth, who are peacefully and bravely defending democracy and human rights, are murdered by the brutal and inhumane military. The UN and international community must not sit idly by while the people of Myanmar suffer.”

For more information, please contact:

  • Daw Khin Ohmar, Progressive Voice (PV), khinohmar@progressive-voice.org
  • Nai Aue Mon, Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), auemon@rehmonnya.org
  • Ko Ting Oo, All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress (AASYC), aasyc.ghq@gmail.com

Download PDF in English I Burmese.

Myanmar Situation March 8-14

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More lives lost on the front lines this week. The people of #Myanmar are grappling with the lack of accountability as the number of casualties and injuries, and those arrested & detained increases daily. Our weekly summary in Eng, Burmese coming soon. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar