Three years ago, on 1 February 2021, the military in Myanmar overthrew by force a democratically elected Government. The military’s actions have undermined the country’s democratic development and plunged Myanmar into a deep political, economic, human rights and humanitarian crisis, significantly threatening the stability of the country and the region. The European Union (EU) renews its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the military coup and its aftermath. We remain deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence and the evolution towards a protracted conflict in the country.
The repressive actions of the Myanmar military, marked by the use of indiscriminate violence against its own population, stand as a grave violation of basic human rights and a blatant disregard for the principles of justice and humanity. Reports of widespread atrocities, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, sexual and gender-based violence, physical abuse, torture, persecution of human rights defenders and journalists, aerial bombardments and shelling of populated areas including of children and camps for internally displaced persons, all illustrate the military’s systemic campaign of violence against the very people it is supposed to protect. The military regime has also cracked down on freedoms of expression, assembly and association, which are the foundations of democracy and stability, and continues to discriminate against the Rohingya and other religious and ethnic minorities.
There are now over 2.6 million people internally displaced in Myanmar; 2.3 million of them have been forcibly displaced since 1 February 2021. More than 70,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries as refugees, while over one million Rohingya refugees remain in Bangladesh following their expulsion by the Myanmar military. The Myanmar military still impedes the rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all displaced persons and people in need, in all parts of the country, in violation of its obligations under international humanitarian law. The EU reiterates its commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar in accordance with the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality and independence. Humanitarian assistance must be delivered with respect to these principles.
The Myanmar military continues to obstruct any engagement in an inclusive dialogue with all relevant stakeholders as called for by ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus. There is only one way out of the protracted conflict that can pave the path towards a meaningful democratic process that reflects the will of the Myanmar people: ending violence, releasing all prisoners arbitrarily detained, respecting human rights and establishing a dialogue with all stakeholders, including the National Unity Government (NUG), the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), political parties, civil society, religious and minority leaders, and ethnic groups. To this end, the EU continues to support ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus and invites all countries within the region and in the international community to support a peaceful solution. The EU stands ready to actively support efforts of the recently appointed ASEAN Special Envoy and any credible and inclusive mediation process with a view to resolve the crisis.
The EU reiterates its call for increased international preventive action, including an arms embargo in order to cease the sale and transfer of arms and equipment as they facilitate the military’s atrocities. The EU encourages an active role for the United Nations, notably through the appointment of a UN Special Envoy on Myanmar, the designation of a Resident Coordinator, and to continue taking action in holding the military accountable for its crimes.
In the absence of progress in Myanmar, the EU stands ready to adopt further restrictive measures against those responsible for the serious human rights violations taking place in the country and for undermining democracy and the rule of law.
On this sad anniversary of the 1 February 2021 military coup, the EU reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the people of Myanmar in their quest for a free, peaceful and democratic future.
