In February 2021, Myanmar’s military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Highlights
- More than 1,400 civilians were killed in clashes with security forces in demonstrations across the country.
- ASEAN has proposed to play the role of mediator for Myanmar to come out of the crisis.
- Zhang said on Friday that Beijing welcomes Hun Sen’s efforts.
United Nations: China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, said on Friday that the primary objective of the UN Security Council in conflict-torn Myanmar should be to protect it from further violence and civil war. After a closed-door meeting of the Security Council’s 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the new UN ambassadors in Myanmar, Zhang Jun expressed hope that efforts by him and others “can defuse the situation”.
It is worth noting that about a year ago, on February 1, 2021, Myanmar’s army snatched power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. According to data collected by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 1,400 civilians were killed in clashes with security forces in subsequent protests across the country. ASEAN, a regional grouping of Southeast Asian countries, has proposed to play a mediator role for Myanmar to come out of the crisis.
The Chinese envoy said his country believed that ASEAN should play an “important role”. In October Cambodia took over the presidency of ASEAN and in December Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed the country’s foreign minister Prak Sokkhon as the envoy of the regional grouping to Myanmar. Hun Sen himself went to Myanmar after the army took power and became the first foreign leader to do so.
Zhang said on Friday that Beijing welcomes the efforts made by Hun Sen and described the Cambodian prime minister’s visit as “very good, very meaningful” and that “we have asked him to continue making more efforts”. He said Sokkhon told the council on Friday that member states have to understand Myanmar’s historical background, the “specific political structure” and the role played by the military in that structure, and that “only on that basis can we work out a solution”. .’
Zhang said China also welcomes the appointment of Nulin Hejer as the new UN special envoy for Myanmar.
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