UN Security Council resolution demands end to Myanmar violence

The United Nations Security Council has adopted its first resolution on Myanmar in 74 years, which demands an end to violence and calls on the country’s military rulers to release all political prisoners, including democratically-elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar’s military seized power from Suu Kyi’s elected government in February 2021, arresting her and other officials, and has responded to pro-democracy protests and dissent with lethal force that has killed several thousand people and seen more than 16,000 jailed.

China and Russia, who have supported Myanmar’s military leaders since the coup, abstained from the UN vote on Wednesday, along with India. The remaining 12 members of the powerful council voted in favor of the resolution.

“Today we’ve sent a firm message to the military that they should be in no doubt – we expect this resolution to be implemented in full,” the United Kingdom’s UN ambassador, Barbara Woodward, said after the vote.

“We’ve also sent a clear message to the people of Myanmar that we seek progress in line with their rights, their wishes, and their interests,” Woodward said.

The only other resolution concerning Myanmar was adopted by the Security Council in 1948 when the body recommended the UN General Assembly admit the country – then known as Burma – as a member of the world body.

China’s UN ambassador, Zhang Jun, told the council after abstaining on the vote that “there is no quick fix to the issue”.

Agencies