Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    7,523 violators of residency, labor, and border security laws deported in a week    Video contradicts Israeli army account of deadly March 23 strike on Gaza paramedics    Saudi Arabia spends over $241 million to implement de-mining projects in 3 countries    Italy's Meloni government approves controversial security decree expanding police protections and penalties    Egypt submits new Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposal: Report    'Everything is possible' — Ronaldo focused on titles, not 1,000-goal milestone after Riyadh Derby win    Saudi, US military leaders discuss enhanced defense cooperation in Riyadh    King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language launches program with Indiana University    Ronaldo brace powers Al Nassr past Al Hilal in Riyadh derby thriller    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Al-Jadaan: Crown Prince's directives confirm government's ability to bring back balance to real estate market    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Foreign investors are allowed to engage in real estate business outside Makkah and Madinah Commercial speculation should not be the purpose of real estate transaction    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Security Council unity ‘crucial' to support democracy in Myanmar
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 03 - 02 - 2021

The UN Special Envoy on Myanmar appealed on Tuesday for the Security Council to unite in support of democracy in the country in the wake of the recent power grab by the military and the declaration of a one-year state of emergency.
Christine Schraner Burgener addressed ambassadors during a closed meeting held the day after Myanmar's military seized power and detained top political leaders and activists, including State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.
"More than ever, this Council's unity is crucial", she said, according to remarks shared afterwards. "I strongly condemn the recent steps taken by the military and urge all of you to collectively send a clear signal in support of democracy in Myanmar."
‘Surprising and shocking'
The crisis stems from elections held in November, marking the second democratic elections in Myanmar since the end of military rule a decade ago.
Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), scored a landslide victory. The military and some political parties claimed the vote was fraudulent.
Myanmar's Supreme Court was scheduled to pronounce this month on its jurisdiction over complaints of alleged election-related violations.
"We had earlier encouraged all electoral disputes should be resolved through established legal mechanisms," Schraner Burgener said. "There appeared to be a commitment on the part of the military to safeguard the rule of law. So, the turn of events was surprising and shocking."
Release leaders
The UN envoy underlined the NLD's victory at the polls. The party won more than 82 percent of seats, which "provided a strong renewed mandate to the NLD, reflecting the clear will of the people of Myanmar to continue on the hard-won path of democratic reform."
She called for the state of emergency to be repealed and for the detained leaders to be released, while the post-electoral litigation process should resume "with full commitment from both sides".
The military's proposal to hold elections again should be discouraged, she added. "It is important that we join our efforts in helping ensure the military respects the will of the people of Myanmar and adheres to democratic norms."
Fears of backsliding
Following reports of violence, including against journalists, Schraner Burgener also urged the Council to ensure the protection of civilians and human rights.
"We cannot allow a full backsliding since Myanmar opened up in 2011," she warned, while expressing fears about the humanitarian consequences of the crisis as all flights, including UN relief flights, have been suspended through April.
The envoy also highlighted other aspects of the crisis, which could hamper efforts to address the situation of the country's Rohingya community, who mainly live in Rakhine state in western Myanmar.
The mainly Muslim minority group has faced violent persecution at the hands of the military. In 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingya fled to neighboring Bangladesh following widespread attacks by the security forces.
"It is all too regretful that the hope of continued progress marked by the Nov. 8 elections, including strengthened United Nations-Myanmar cooperation, has been jeopardized," Schraner Burgener said.
"A smooth transition of power would have presented a key opportunity to advance action on priority issues including the Rohingya crisis, strengthening of the rule of law, and advancing national reconciliation and human rights protection for all of Myanmar's diverse communities."
UN General Assembly President concerned
The UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir has also called for the immediate release of the detained political leaders in Myanmar, adding that attempts to undermine democracy and rule of law are unacceptable.
"The president said this morning that he is deeply concerned that the military coup in Myanmar could further exacerbate the problems of the most vulnerable, including Rohingya Muslims," his spokesman, Brendan Varma, told journalists on Tuesday.
"He condemned the coup once again and called for unrestricted humanitarian access to Rakhine State and other parts of the country."
Bozkir is also looking to schedule a briefing by the Special Envoy for all UN member states, in line with a General Assembly resolution on the human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar. — UN News


Clic here to read the story from its source.