One year ago, the military seized power in Myanmar by force. The country has since descended into civil war fraught with human rights violations, but the international community has resisted imposing measures against the military regime. Members of Myanmar's exile government spoke in Paris on January 31 about the role France and other countries can play against the junta.
In the weeks after the coup in Myanmar, on February 1, 2021, the international community unanimously condemned the military seizure of power. French president Emmanuel Macron even sent a Tweet in Burmese, declaring his support for the people of Myanmar and calling for an “immediate end to suppression”.
One year later, the country is in the midst of a civil war in which the military regularly meets popular resistance to its regime with extreme violence. More than 1,500 civilians have been killed and nearly 9,000 arrested, charged or sentenced by the junta according to figures from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Burma, which has also reported cases of rape, torture and extrajudicial execution. Yet the international community has stalled in taking concrete measures against the junta leader, general Min Aung Hlaing.
Aung Myo Min, the minister for human rights in Myanmar's government-in-exile, the national unity government (NUG), emphasized that point repeatedly at press conference in Paris on Monday, January 31.
“The international community needs to increase pressure on the junta," he said. “There have been a lot of words. Unfortunately without follow-up action, they are just hot air.”
The UN made a similar appeal on Friday, January 28. “It is time for an urgent, renewed effort to restore human rights and democracy in Myanmar and ensure that perpetrators of systemic human rights violations and abuses are held to account,” said Michelle Bachelet, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement.
The same day, multiple NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, also called on the UN Security Council to adopt a global arms embargo, a measure that China and Russia have so far refused.
In Myanmar, the NUG asked the international community to provide humanitarian aid as the country now risks falling into economic crisis and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced due to fighting.
‘The legitimate government of Myanmar’
For Aung Myo Min the priority is international recognition of the NUG. Formed shortly after the coup, the exile government is made up of MPs from the National League for Democracy (NLD) party formed by Aung San Suu Kyi, representatives from ethnic minority groups and civilians. With most members exiled abroad, the members work remotely to restore democracy in Myanmar.
“We are the legitimate government of Myanmar… Many members of our government were elected democratically during the last elections, and we have the support of the people”, said Aung Myo Min, who is also an advocate for LGBT rights in the country.
So far, France is one of just a handful of countries, also including the Czech Republic and Canada, to have initiated the process of formally recognising the NUG as Myanmar's official government. On October 5, 2021, the French Senate passed a motion confirming this intention and the issue is now under discussion in the Assemblée nationale, the lower house of parliament.
‘France could play a key role’
“France could play a key role in the fight against the military junta,” said Alex Aung Khant, representative for the exile government in France and grandnephew of Aung San Suu Kyi, speaking at Monday’s press conference. The two countries share strong ties. French people represent the largest group of western expatriates in Myanmar, and some French businesses including Bouygues, JCDecaux and TotalEnergies have offices located in the country, some of which have now closed.
“The Senate made a courageous choice. Now the government must follow,” he said. “At a time when France has taken on the presidency of the European Union, it could really take a leadership role on this issue”.
If the NUG were recognised as Myanmar's official government, one notable change is that it would be able to formally demand aid from the UN. “And it would be a strike against the military, which is trying to impose itself at the international level,” added Alex Aung Khant.
Until then, the NUG is limited in the action it can take. “We work mainly via social media to keep in contact with civilians on the ground” said Aung Myo Min. “We are increasing communication campaigns to encourage members of the military to quit the army. We are trying to send basic necessities to help resistance groups. And the rest of the time we concentrate on amplifying the voices of the Burmese people overseas.”
Hitting the junta in the wallet
Beyond diplomacy, both men called for an increase in economic sanctions against the junta, an embargo on supplying it with weapons and for arrest warrants for some junta generals.
In the build-up to the 12-month anniversary of the coup, some private companies have introduced their own sanctions. On January 21, TotalEnergies announced it would cease all activities in Myanmar, a move strongly supported by the pro-democracy movement. Shortly after, others followed their lead including American energy company Chevron and Australian petroleum company Woodside. However, few other large companies have followed suit, despite pressure from NGOs.
“These departures will only have a limited impact on the junta,” said Alex Aung Khant. Revenue from natural gas is the military’s main source of funds, bringing in around one billion US dollars each year. “To really hit them in their wallets, countries need to introduce targeted sanctions that stop this income”, Alex Aung Khant added.
One year after the coup, some countries are starting to do so.
On Monday, January 31, the US announced new economic sanctions against the junta, blocking its property and transactions on US soil. The restrictions, which were part of a joint action with the UK and Canada, target the highest legal powers in Myanmar: public prosecutor Thida Oo, the president of the Supreme Court, Tun Tun Oo, and the head of the anti-corruption commission, Tin Oo, according to a summary from the US Department of the Treasury.
Two companies and four other individuals were also named as targets for their role in providing the junta with weapons, equipment and financial support.
“The United States, along with allies in the United Kingdom and Canada, stands with the people of Burma as they seek freedom and democracy,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson, in a statement.
This article was translated from the original in French.
