Mohammad Amjad Hossain :
It seems to be amazing to note that both China and India, apart from Russia and Vietnam, friendly toward Bangladesh, have asserted to boil down hard-hit statements by the Security Council drafted by the Ambassador of the United Kingdom. Both China and India in the Security Council insisted on boiling down the statement. The Security Council is composed of 15 members, including five permanent members. The United States of America, United Kingdom, China. Russian Federation, France are permanent members of the Security council.
The President of the Security Council issued a statement on 10 March, 2021 on the current situation in Myanmar which has condemned the Myanmar military’s violent crackdown against anti-coup demonstrators. The UN statement, however, removed language that explicitly condemned the coup and threatened possible further action. As of now 70 people were killed by the army. By now thousands of government workers across the country have been participating in the civil disobedience movement.
Biden administration of the United states of America in fact sanctioned two sons of Myanmar military chief General Min Aung Hlaing who is reported to have invoked powers based on section 417 of the constitution of 2008 drafted by military who were in the Parliament.25 percent seats are occupied by the military in lower and upper houses of the Parliament of Myanmar. President Joseph Biden’s administration holds the opinion that the situation on the ground in Myanmar is troubling while the administration has been working closely with its partners in the region.
According to Nikkel Asia, a Japanese newspaper whose circulation stands 2.83 million has spoken that General Min Aung Hlaing is responsible for brutal counter insurgency sweep forcing over 740,000 desperate Rohingya over the border into Bangladesh. The United Nations and others found clear evidence of ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar. There is a positive sign that other minority communities are now united against the military junta. General strike committee of nationalities (GSCN) has been formed to support the protest and be a central place for the many protests ethnic minorities which are made up of 29 ethnic groups. They demanded to end military rule, abolish the military drafted 2008 constitution and build a federal democratic union and release everyone who has been unjustly detained.
Ethnic minorities in Myanmar were subjected to military oppression for 70 years and the UN said in 2019 that grave human right abuses by the military against the Rohingya minority are still continuing in ethnic states of Rakhine, Chin, Kachin and Karen. Kachin Independence army recently attacked Myanmar military outpost.
According to The Irrawaddy newspaper of Myanmar as chaos and crackdown continue almost every day in Myanmar there is significant risk that the country could descend into civil war or become a failed state. According to the Irrawaddy, instability in Myanmar would create a major headache for the country’s two giant neighbors; China and India. According to The Irrawaddy of 12 March, China in fact has faced strong condemnation from the people of Myanmar following the failure to condemn those responsible for the coup. Having seen the situation in Myanmar Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi has spoken on 7 March suggesting to ease tension in Myanmar while engaging with its leaders from different parties but disagreed with the Biden administration for imposing economic sanction. Chinese Foreign Minister did not say to release all political persons from detention to have discussion.
In a statement Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun on 11 March is reported to have said that it is time for de-escalation in the crisis in Myanmar and it is time for dialogue. This statement in fact coincides with my article which the New Nation carried out on 3 March 2021 wherein this writer recommended all members of the Security Council should consider having talks with military leaders to have a compromise solution.
(Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired diplomat from Bangladesh and former President of Nova Toastmaster International club of America writes from Falls
Church, Virginia).
