China, Russia, Serbia Supplying Junta Weapons: UN
United Nations, Feb 23: The United Nations in its latest report has revealed that China, Russia and Serbia have been supplying arms to junta government in Myanmar that are being used against the civilians since the coup in 2018. The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, had submitted its report to the UN Human Rights Council on February 22.
The report titled ‘Enabling Atrocities: UN Member States’ Arms Transfers to the Myanmar Military’ has named the countries who had authorised the transfer of weapons since 2018 when Myanmar military atrocity crimes against the Rohingya ethnic minority were widely documented and a UN Fact Finding Mission called for an immediate arms embargo.
Andrews said, “Despite the evidence of the military junta’s atrocity crimes being committed with impunity since launching a coup last year, UN Security Council members Russia and China continue to provide the Myanmar military junta with numerous fighter jets, armored vehicles, and in the case of Russia, the promise of further arms. During this same period, Serbia has authorized rockets and artillery for export to the Myanmar military. Urging the countries to “immediately suspend their weapons sales”, he called for an emergency Security Council session to debate and vote on a resolution to, at minimum, ban those arms transfers that the Myanmar military are known to use to attack and kill Myanmar civilians.
Andrews said, “It should be incontrovertible that weapons used to kill civilians should no longer be transferred to Myanmar. These transfers truly shock the conscience. Stopping the junta’s atrocity crimes begins with blocking their access to weapons. The more the world delays, the more innocent people, including children, will die in Myanmar.” “The people of Myanmar are imploring the UN to act. They deserve an up-or-down vote on a Security Council resolution that will stop the sale of weapons being used to kill them. Too many families are finding themselves in the cross-hairs of weapons of war that Member States are supplying. This must end.” The report also called for coordinated action by Member States to cut the junta’s access to revenue, just as the people of Myanmar are doing through widespread boycotts on goods linked to the military.
