The following statement was issued by the governments of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the European Union to discuss the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.
Introductory text:
We, Australia, Canada, the European Union, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, are deeply concerned by the escalating conflict in Myanmar and in particular the growing harm to civilians, which is worsening and worsening the human rights and humanitarian crisis across the country.
Since the February 2021 coup, the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has increased from 1 million to 18.6 million. There have been credible reports of violations and abuses against the civilian population, including airstrikes on homes, schools, places of worship and hospitals, torture, the use of civilians as human shields, and sexual and gender-based violence against women and children. As the conflict escalates, communities across Myanmar are facing further displacement.
The military regime is systematically restricting access to life-saving humanitarian assistance. We are concerned about growing shortages of water and food and the widespread denial of access to healthcare, medicines and vital humanitarian services. The continued blocking of roads and telecommunications in conflict areas is hampering humanitarian delivery and access to information.
Across the country, more than 1,000 civilians were killed or maimed by landmines in 2023, and casualties are rising rapidly. A growing number of people are being trafficked and detained against their will. All parties must ensure they are prioritising the protection of civilians.
We are deeply concerned by the military regime’s implementation of the 2010 Conscription Law, which is leading to a rise in the number of displaced people. This measure continues to divide communities and fuel identity-based violence in Myanmar.
In Rakhine State, towns and villages have been repeatedly targeted by the military regime and armed groups. We are concerned by recent reports of high levels of displacement in Buthidaung. We call on all armed actors to ensure the safety of civilians. The deliberate use of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech is fuelling communal and inter-community conflict. Reports of forced recruitment, including of Rohingya, are further dividing communities and exploiting tensions and mistrust. All populations are facing extreme levels of food insecurity. The situation is becoming increasingly dangerous for all civilians, including Rakhine, Rohingya and other ethnic communities.
There must be accountability for all atrocities committed in Myanmar. We recall the International Court of Justice’s order on provisional measures and stress the need for compliance with it to protect human rights and prevent further violations.
We welcome UN Security Council Resolution 2669 on the situation in Myanmar, which calls for an immediate cessation of all forms of violence and urges all parties to respect human rights and allow full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
We welcome the appointment of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar (UNSE) and the unified efforts made by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), UNSE and regional actors to resolve the crisis. We reiterate the need for strong UN leadership in the country.
We reiterate our call on all States to halt or cease the supply of arms or military and dual-use materials, including aviation fuel, to the Myanmar military.
The military regime must release all those arbitrarily detained and fully implement the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus. We call on all parties to create space for meaningful and inclusive dialogue so that democracy can be fully restored.
We remain steadfast in our support for all those committed to working peacefully towards an inclusive, non-violent and democratic future for the people of Myanmar.
Lesson finished.
joint-statement-on-the-ongoing-conflict-in-myanmar-united-states-department-of-state
