Head of the International Olympic Committee’s ethics committee, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not present) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, May 15, 2018. REUTERS / Thomas Peter / Pool
Former UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday urged his successor to engage directly with the Myanmar army to prevent the escalation of post-coup violence and said Southeast Asian countries should not reject the unrest. as an internal problem for Myanmar.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ special envoy to Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, has been in contact with the military since he fired an elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, but the army did not allow him to visit.
“Given the gravity and urgency of the situation, I believe that the Secretary-General himself should use his good offices to engage directly with the Myanmar army to prevent escalating violence,” said Ban, Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016. a UN Security Council meeting.
Guterres is “very actively involved” in Myanmar and “has been for a long time,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, adding: “His good offices, along with his special envoy, are always available. We all want to see an end to violence. “
Guterres told the Security Council on Monday that a “robust international response based on a unified regional effort” was needed, urging regional actors to exert their influence to prevent further deterioration and, ultimately, to find a way. peaceful exit from this catastrophe ”.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), made up of 10 members, tried to find a way out of the violence that hit my colleagues in Myanmar. The head of the Junta, Min Aung Hlaing, is due to attend an ASEAN summit in Indonesia on April 24.
“ASEAN needs to make it clear to the Myanmar military that the current situation is so dire that it cannot be seen only as an internal matter,” said Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister who is now a member of the global leaders’ group The Elders.
According to the activist group of the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners, 737 people have been killed by security forces since the coup and 3,229 remain in detention.
“The use of lethal force by the military and serious human rights violations committed against civilians are not compatible with the ASEAN Charter,” he said. “These actions are clear violations of international law and pose a threat to the peace, security and stability of the region.”
Ban also called on the Security Council to go beyond declarations of collective action. However, some diplomats say Russia and China will prevent any stronger action.
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