Myanmar Spring Chronicle – September 21
Published by MoeMaKa on September 22, 2023
United Nations Reaffirms U Kyaw Moe Tun as UN Ambassador to Myanmar; U.S. Announces $74 Million Aid for Rohingya Refugees
In a noteworthy development, the United Nations Credential Committee has not only reaffirmed U Kyaw Moe Tun as the UN Ambassador to Myanmar, as it initially did in September 2021, but has upheld his role for a second time in 2023, as reported today. The Credential Committee plays a pivotal role in determining the eligibility of government representatives to participate in the United Nations. It also has the authority to decide on contentious matters related to the appointment of ambassadorial representatives from select countries. A few months after the military coup in Myanmar, U Kyaw Moe Tun, originally appointed during the NLD regime, boldly expressed his opposition to the coup’s military council, making him the UN Ambassador to Myanmar who declined to represent the military council. Now, over two and a half years have passed, marking the third United Nations decision on this matter.
In the aftermath of the military coup, there were several ambassadors and embassy diplomats who refused to endorse the military council. U Kyaw Moe Tun was the first ambassador to publicly denounce the coup, a move that significantly undermined the military council’s diplomatic standing. The coup’s military council was confronted with an unforeseen wave of opposition, one that remarkably found resonance with both China and the United States concerning Myanmar’s political crisis. According to reports, the United States and China have informally discussed and reached a consensus to continue recognizing U Kyaw Moe Tun as the UN Ambassador.
While these UN representations have played a vital role in diplomatically pressuring the military council in the aftermath of the coup, it is crucial to understand that diplomacy, while essential, is not the decisive factor in the more than two and a half years’ struggle to oust the military dictatorship. Diplomatic pressure on the military council serves as a necessary component, but it is the domestic armed struggle and the eventual downfall of the military dictatorship that will ultimately determine the outcome. It is imperative to foster unity among the nation’s political and military forces and achieve a shared objective, recognizing that diplomatic efforts, while necessary, are not the sole determinant of victory or defeat.
In the second piece of news today, the U.S. government has announced its intention to provide $74 million in aid to the Rohingya refugees who have sought shelter in Bangladesh for over six years. The Rohingya refugee crisis emerged in late August 2017 when between 700,000 and 1 million Rohingya fled to neighboring countries to escape genocide. Over time, the situation has become increasingly difficult to resolve and has imposed a significant burden on the host countries that accepted these refugees. Bangladesh, in particular, has experienced challenges accommodating this large population, given existing space limitations.
As seven years have passed, these refugees have lived together in conditions that do not align with their population, facing a shortage of educational and employment opportunities. The host country, grappling with the responsibility of supporting this population, is urgently appealing to the international community for a swift resolution to the Rohingya refugee crisis. The refugees’ future appears bleak, marked by dependency on aid, absence of labor opportunities, and diminished human dignity. In light of these circumstances, Bangladesh has sought assistance from Islamic countries, China, and the United States in expediting a comprehensive solution to this matter.
Around the world, new conflicts and wars are emerging, and as global attention shifts, aid has dwindled, with significantly reduced monthly quotas provided to refugees in recent years. The Myanmar military council, held accountable for the genocide that triggered the refugees’ flight, has expressed readiness to accept them back. However, there is no assurance of non-recurrence of violence, return to their original homes, or the restoration of citizenship rights restricted long before these events. The military council’s use of the term “repatriation” is largely for political gain. Following the armed attacks against the military dictatorship resulting from the coup, the armed conflict between the Arakan Army and the military council in Rakhine State became the primary political issue in Myanmar. Subsequently, the Rohingya crisis moved into the background, and the issue of nearly one million refugees has lagged in Myanmar’s internal politics. Internationally, overshadowed by crises such as Ukraine, it has transformed into a humanitarian refugee crisis.