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On 1st February, #Myanmar’s military, led by Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, seized power. The coup follows the defeat of military-backed candidates in the November 2020 election, won in a landslide by the National League for Democracy. (2/12) https://www.globalr2p.org/countries/myanmar-burma/
A number of #Myanmar’s NLD leaders have been detained, including Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint.
The military has declared a state of emergency for one year. (3/12) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-55882489
The military has declared a state of emergency for one year. (3/12) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-55882489
#Myanmar was a former British colony before it gained independence in 1948. It became a military dictatorship in 1962 and remained so until 2010, when a new government began ushering in a return to civilian rule, but the military remained a powerful force in politics. (4/12)
Following the coup, protests swelled across the country. These have been widely described as peaceful, but there are reports emerging of excessive and lethal force by the police. (5/12) https://twitter.com/astroehlein/status/1359401357057396736
Why is that an issue?
There is an increased risk to the human rights of civilians in Myanmar. In particular, Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority faces a severe threat of persecution. (6/12)
https://www.hrw.org/asia/myanmar-burma
There is an increased risk to the human rights of civilians in Myanmar. In particular, Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority faces a severe threat of persecution. (6/12)
https://www.hrw.org/asia/myanmar-burma
Min Aung Hlaing has led a campaign of persecution against the Rohingya.
An estimated 900,000 ethnic Rohingya are currently refugees in Bangladesh.
600,000 Rohingyas remaining in Rakhine State are subject to severe restrictions.
(7/12)
An estimated 900,000 ethnic Rohingya are currently refugees in Bangladesh.
600,000 Rohingyas remaining in Rakhine State are subject to severe restrictions.
(7/12)
In 2018, the @UNhumanrights Fact-Finding Mission determined that military leaders, including Min Aung Hlaing, should be prosecuted for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. (8/12) https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=23575&LangID=E
What can be done?
Min Aung Hlaing has faced little more than being banned from holidaying in the UK.
The United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar recommended:
Sanctions on military companies,
Arms embargoes,
Support for international justice at the ICC and ICJ (9/13)
Min Aung Hlaing has faced little more than being banned from holidaying in the UK.
The United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar recommended:
Sanctions on military companies,Arms embargoes,Support for international justice at the ICC and ICJ (9/13)
International coordination is vital and we welcome statements from the Government that the United Kingdom will work with international partners to mobilise an international response.
(10/12)
(10/12)
How does this relate to us?
Jo Cox was a passionate campaigner and humanitarian. She dedicated her career to helping those less fortunate than herself. She was a staunch advocate of an ethical foreign policy and the responsibility to protect.
(11/12) https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/jocoxhumanitarian
Jo Cox was a passionate campaigner and humanitarian. She dedicated her career to helping those less fortunate than herself. She was a staunch advocate of an ethical foreign policy and the responsibility to protect.
(11/12) https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/jocoxhumanitarian
We have joined Members of the UK Atrocity Prevention Working Group to call upon Her Majesty’s Government to act swiftly, comprehensively and with conviction in response to the unjustifiable seizure of power from Myanmar’s fragile democracy.
(12/12) https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/joint_letter_myanmar_coup
(12/12) https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/joint_letter_myanmar_coup
