GENEVA (1 February 2021) – A UN human rights expert today condemned the military coup in Myanmar, urging a strong and
unequivocal condemnation and action by the international community.
“I call for the immediate, unconditional release of everyone who has been detained, the restoration of communications
and an end to this outrageous and unlawful action,” said Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of
human rights in Myanmar.
“The ‘state of emergency’ in Myanmar is the military itself. They are guilty of an assault on an emerging democracy and
the people of Myanmar. Human rights and democracy champions are in detention and under siege. They need and they deserve
the world to be standing with them, which makes a strong international response imperative.”
Andrews called on the international community to show resolve in denouncing the military’s actions, and to ensure those
responsible for the country’s past human rights violations are held accountable.
“Decisive action is imperative, including the imposition of strong targeted sanctions, and an arms embargo until such
time as democracy is restored,” he added.
“Elected leaders and champions of democracy are in detention and under siege. The onus is, thus, on the international
community to hold the Tatmadaw responsible.
“The seizure of military power over a democratically elected government casts a dark shadow once again over the
country,” said Andrews. “The generals have created a climate of fear and anxiety.
“The Tatmadaw must immediately restore democratic order, and return elected authorities to power. The military
leadership must also fully respect and protect people’s rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
“All detainees must be released immediately. We also call on the Tatmadaw to avoid any use of force against protesters
or civilians, and to respect the rights of the people of Myanmar to peacefully protest and express their opposition,”
Andrews said.
On 31 January, Myanmar’s military seized all levers of power in the country, consolidating control over the legislative,
judicial and executive branches of government and detaining the leadership of the civilian governmental authorities,
including the State Counselor, Aung San Suu Kyii and President U Win Myint.
In a video address on the military run TV channel Myawaddy, the military declared a State of Emergency and the taking of
power for one year. It justified their decision indicating reports of electoral fraud by the Tatmadaw’s political ally,
USDP. On 8 November 2020, Myanmar held general election which granted an overwhelming majority to the National League
for Democracy (NLD), paving the way for greater reforms and democratic transition.
Several members of the new parliament are reportedly being held under house arrest, while the whereabouts of the leader
of NLD, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other senior leaders, are unknown.
A heavy police presence is reported around Myanmar’s capital Yangon, and communication networks and internet
connectivity, including mobile and Wifi, in Yangon and Naypyitaw have been largely shutdown.
Mr. Thomas Andrews (United States of America) is the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. A former member of the US Congress from Maine, Andrews is a Robina Senior Human Rights Fellow at Yale Law School and an Associate of Harvard University’s Asia Center. He has worked
with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and parliamentarians, NGOs and political parties in
Cambodia, Indonesia, Algeria, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine and Yemen. He has been a consultant for the National Coalition
Government of the Union of Burma and the Euro-Burma Network and has run advocacy NGOs including Win Without War and
United to End Genocide.