Myanmar sees no reason for UN's resolution other than a politically motivated agenda

It is learnt that the resolution entitled “ Situation of Human Rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar” was adopted without a vote on 17 November 2017 at the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Issues) of the 76^th session of the United Nations General Assembly which has been convening in New York, the United States.

It is found that the resolution does not reflect the efforts made by the Myanmar Government to bring stability and rule of law for its people and to address the challenges with utmost restraints. The elements contained in the resolution are based on unreliable sources and information, amplified by certain opposition groups and unlawful associations as well as terrorist and armed groups which are all targeted against Myanmar, and accordingly, they are found unsounded and erroneous. The resolution further ignores the indiscriminate violence committed by the terrorist groups CRPH, NUG and PDF which killed over 1300 innocent civilians including sanghas (monks), teachers, medical workers, administrative staff and politicians from different political parties.

The origin of the resolution was emanated from the incident that took place in Northern Rakhine State in 2017 when the terrorist attacks were launched by ARSA aka Aqua Mul Mujahidin. The elements of the successive resolutions have failed to properly include reality of the ground situation, historical background of the region and the root cause of the issue. They neither include sufferings of all communities including hundreds of displaced Hindu communities nor mention the efforts made by the Myanmar Government and the absence of the Bangladesh Government for repatriation of the displaced persons including Hindus. Although the bilateral mechanism could not commence the repatriation process yet, over 700 displaced Bengalis have returned to Myanmar with their own volition. It is necessary to recognize that many displaced persons have been facing life-threatening challenges and could not return to Myanmar, as extremists are active in the camps in Bangladesh side. The resolution fails to include these facts that have caused a detrimental effect not only on country-concerned but on own image of the United Nations in the context of preserving its values of impartiality and objectivity.

Myanmar stands ready to receive the verified displaced persons and to grant appropriate citizenship status to those who met the criteria set out in the 1982 Myanmar Citizenship Law upon application. Nonetheless, Myanmar does not recognize the term “Rohingya”. The real aim of using this term is to claim wider ethnicity and territorial status. Such usage has never existed in legal and historical records of the country and thus, the people of Myanmar cannot accept it. It is disturbing to see that the unlawful and terrorist group, NUG and Kyaw Moe Tun recognize the term “Rohingya” and call for repealing the 1982 Myanmar Citizenship Law in direct contradiction to the national interest, historical facts and will of the people.

Myanmar steadfastly opposes the country-specific resolutions as their modalities do not create objective reporting, constructive dialogue and cooperation between the country-concerned and the international community. In the past, Myanmar used to call for a vote. Nonetheless, it is observed that this year resolution was adopted without a vote due to misrepresentation of Myanmar at the United Nations and absence of legitimate representative in the discussion.

It is totally unacceptable that Kyaw Moe Tun, dismissed from government service and representing the unlawful and terrorist group namely NUG, was admitted to the said discussion and thus, Myanmar unconditionally objects it. The remarks by Kyaw Moe Tun, particularly with regard to Bengali-related matters, are contrary to the successive Myanmar Government’s principles and position. In this regard, the Myanmar Government highlights that the statement of Kyaw Moe Tun does not represent the country-concerned and therefore, Myanmar strongly rejects it.

Myanmar sees no reason for such actions by the United Nations other than a politically motivated agenda to entertain the certain sponsors, targeting against a single country by spending a lot of funds from the UN budget every year. As it only includes the intrusive wordings that invite the external mechanisms with no respect for sovereign integrity of the nation, Myanmar categorically rejects the resolution and dissociates itself from adoption of it.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nay Pyi Taw
19 November 2021