EU, Britain denounce Myanmar violence at UN Security Council

UNITED NATIONS (HRNW) – UN Security Council European member states and Britain on Thursday denounced violence in Myanmar and expressed concern over the coronavirus pandemic in the country, in a document China refused to endorse, diplomatic sources said.

Britain, which initiated the session, said it was concerned about “the heavy toll” an escalation of violence between the Myanmar military and the insurgent Arakan Army was “taking on civilians at the time of a global COVID-19 crisis.”

The country s northwest has been embroiled in an increasingly brutal civil war between the military and Arakan Army rebels demanding more autonomy for the region s ethnic Rakhine Buddhists.

“The conflict has already led to a spike in internal displacement, additional restrictions on humanitarian access, and an increased number of civilian casualties,” Britain said in a statement.

EU members Belgium, Estonia, France and Germany expressed the same concern, calling for “an immediate, comprehensive and nationwide ceasefire.”

“We emphasize the importance of an inclusive response to the COVID-19 pandemic that protects all communities and takes into account the vulnerability of refugees and internally displaced persons,” they said, mentioning in particular women from Myanmar s persecuted minority Rohingya Muslim population.