An independent human rights expert working with the United Nations is criticizing China and Russia for allegedly supplying weapons used by Myanmar’s military against civilians since it seized power last year
GENEVA - An independent human rights expert working with the United Nations is criticizing China and Russia for allegedly supplying weapons used against civilians by Myanmar's military since it seized power last year.
Tom Andrews, a special rapporteur working with the UN Human Rights Office, urged countries to stop such sales. He also called on the United Nations Security Council, where China and Russia are permanent members, to hold an emergency meeting to discuss a possible ban on arms sales against civilians by Myanmar's military.
"The people of Myanmar are calling on the United Nations to act," Andrews said in a statement on Tuesday. "They deserve an up or down vote on a Security Council resolution that would stop the sale of weapons being used to kill them."
The findings come in a new report by Andrews on the types and quantities of weapons used by the military in early 2018, when it led to a bloody crackdown on the Muslim Rohingya minority, which caused hundreds of thousands to flee to neighboring Bangladesh.
Andrews' research described several categories of weapons transfers, of which he identified the "most problematic" ones coming from China, Russia and Serbia, as they have been sent since 2018 and continuing after the military takeover last year. is kept.
He cited India for having transferred arms before and once after the coup, and said three other countries - Belarus, Pakistan and Ukraine - had sent weapons before the military takeover, but not after. He said Israel and South Korea have sent naval ships to Myanmar since 2018 that could be used against civilians, but have since committed to no longer sending weapons.
Andrews, a former US Congressman, said a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in June failed to make "any clear impact" on the ability of Myanmar's military to attack civilians, who have left large numbers despite the government's deadly repression. has performed. of protests.
They work in special coordination with the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva based on mandates assigned by the UN-backed Human Rights Council, a 47-member body that currently counts both China and Russia as members.
Widespread nonviolent protests in Myanmar overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government after a military takeover in February last year. An armed resistance escalated after peaceful protests were cut short.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 1,500 civilians have been killed by security forces.