UN Calls For Halt Of Flow Of Weapons To Myanmar

The United Nations General Assembly on Friday called for a stop to the flow of arms to Myanmar and urged the military to respect November election results and release political detainees, including leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The General Assembly adopted a resolution with the support of 119 countries some four months after the military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in a coup.

Belarus requested the text be put to a vote and was the only country to oppose it, while 36 abstained, including China and Russia. The remaining 37 General Assembly members did not vote.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had earlier on Friday pushed the General Assembly to act, stating that one cannot live in a world where military coups become a norm.

The military cited the government’s refusal to address what it said was fraud in a November election as the reason for the coup even though International observers have said the ballot was fair.

An initial draft UN resolution included stronger language calling for an arms embargo on Myanmar. According to a proposal seen by Reuters last month, nine Southeast Asian countries wanted that language removed.

General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding but carry political weight. Unlike the 15-member Security Council, no country has veto power in the General Assembly.

The junta’s forces have killed more than 860 people since the February 1 coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. The junta claims the number is much lower.

The UN resolution calls on the Myanmar military to “immediately stop all violence against peaceful protesters” and end restrictions on the internet and social media.