The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted its first resolution on Myanmar in 74 years to demand an end to the violence and urge the military junta to release all political prisoners, including ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Myanmar has been in crisis since the military seized power from Suu Kyi’s elected government on February 1, 2021, detaining her and other officials and responding to pro-democracy protests and dissent with lethal force.
Britain’s ambassador to the United Nations, Barbara Woodward, said after voting on the British-drafted resolution: “Today we have sent a strong message to the military that they should have no doubts about – we expect this resolution to be implemented in full. “
“We have also sent a clear message to the people of Myanmar that we want progress in line with their rights, their wishes and their interests,” Woodward told the 15-member council.
There have been longstanding differences over how to handle the Myanmar crisis, with China and Russia arguing against tougher action. They both abstained from voting on Wednesday along with India. The remaining 12 members voted in favour.
After the vote, China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, told the council, “China is still concerned.” “There is no quick solution to the issue… whether it can be properly resolved in the end depends fundamentally and only on Myanmar.”
He said China wanted the Security Council to adopt a formal statement on Myanmar, not a resolution.
Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow does not view the situation in Myanmar as a threat to international peace and security and therefore believes it should not be dealt with by the UN Security Council.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the adoption of the resolution. “This is an important step by the Security Council to address the crisis and end the Burmese military regime’s growing repression and violence against civilians,” he said in a statement.