GENEVA: The United Nations’ special rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said on Wednesday that the country’s military junta is already facing an “existential threat” due to declining troop numbers, while urging coordinated international sanctions to end its oppressive rule.
Andrews highlighted the junta’s diminishing forces, citing mass casualties, defections, surrenders, and recruitment challenges, which have significantly weakened its grip on power. He emphasized that those who had pinned their hopes on the junta to restore order and stability in Myanmar had made a “losing bet.”
The military junta seized control in a coup in February 2021, ousting the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and triggering widespread unrest and violence across the nation. Despite the junta’s efforts to suppress resistance, Myanmar has been engulfed in turmoil, with long-established ethnic rebel groups and newer pro-democracy forces opposing its rule.
Andrews condemned the junta as the primary source of violence, instability, economic decline, and lawlessness in Myanmar. He underscored the importance of coordinated sanctions, noting their disruptive impact on the junta’s operations, particularly in terms of financial flows and military equipment procurement.
While acknowledging measures taken by some countries, such as Singapore’s restrictions on sales of military equipment, Andrews lamented the lack of similar actions by major arms suppliers like Russia and China.
He stressed the need for a concerted and focused approach in applying sanctions to stifle the junta financially. Andrews revealed ongoing investigations into the junta’s banking and financial relations with the rest of the world, with plans to publish a comprehensive report later this year.
Expressing concern over the global community’s limited attention to Myanmar amidst other conflicts, Andrews urged intensified efforts to support the people of Myanmar and pave the way for a democratic, human rights-respecting future.
