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The Price of International Inaction: Myanmar and Syria


#Mar12Coup 

The following is an extract from a statement made by Thomas H. Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation on human rights in Myanmar to the United Nations Human Rights Council, 11th March 2021. 


"Madame President, if we accept that there is a strong likelihood that the Myanmar junta is engaged in atrocity crimes against its own people right now, as we sit here, what do we do about it?

Knowing, as we do, the price of international inaction, what action must be taken immediately?

Yesterday, the UN Security Council released a statement expressing their deep concern about developments in Myanmar. They condemned the violence against peaceful protesters and expressed continued support for a democratic transition.

These words are welcome. But, they are wholly insufficient."


It is the words 'knowing, as we do, the price of international inaction' that resonated with me most in a response to yet another tepid statement released by the president of the Security Council on Wednesday this week. 

The price of international inaction that Andrews could easily be referring to is the Syrian civil war that marked its 10th anniversary on the same day the Security Council released its statement on Myanmar. 

According to the Global Centre For the Responsibility to Protect  Russia and China have vetoed resolutions thirteen times since October 2011 in relation to the ongoing conflict in Syria. The same two nations that objected to the term 'coup' being included in this week's Security Council Statement and in one draft requesting removal of language that would indicate further action, possibly in the form of further sanctions.  

If there is anything to be learned from the lukewarm statements made by the Security Council in light of current events in Myanmar then it would be that it is in urgent need of reform. The stranglehold the Security Council has on crucial decisions regarding events that call for immediate and urgent response needs to come to an end. Statements of condemnation are of some value, but as Andrews very aptly puts it:

These words are welcome. But, they are wholly insufficient

 




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