Myanmar’s military government has been attacking civilians since the February 1 coup last year with weapons provided by China, Russia, and Serbia. This was stated in a report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in February on the human rights situation in Myanmar.

According to the reports, the two permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and Russia, and Serbia had provided arms to Myanmar. These weapons have been used against civilians in Myanmar since the military coup. It added that despite evidence of military junta atrocities, Russia and China have provided Myanmar’s military government with numerous warplanes, armored vehicles and Russia has promised more weapons. During this time, the Serbian government has approved the export of rockets and artillery to the Myanmar military.

Economic and arms embargoes must be imposed to put effective pressure on Myanmar. It is not enough just to impose sanctions on a few military officers or companies. At the same time, the major regional powers need to play a stronger role in ensuring that Myanmar takes responsibility for its own actions.

The Rohingya crisis was created by Myanmar and its solution is in Myanmar. Voluntarily, Rohingyas want to return to their homes with full civil rights, but Myanmar has not yet created a conducive environment for their return. Myanmar’s military is still wreaking havoc there. The international community must put pressure on Myanmar to create a conducive environment. The situation is bound to improve if the international community imposes arms and economic sanctions on the country. For this, the UN Security Council or the international community should take appropriate action.

Myanmar’s military is killing civilians in the state of Karen, using them as human armour, which amounts to a war crime, according to the international human rights group Fortify Rights. The group called on ASEAN member states to adhere to the UN Security Council’s arms embargo to ban arms and technology sales to Myanmar’s military.

A clear and concise initiative is needed to force the Myanmar military to reconsider its response to attacks on civilians. Tatmadaw, the Myanmarese junta, must be pressured to allow the Rohingyas in Bangladesh to return to their homes with full dignity and civil rights. To that end, the international community should impose arms embargoes and economic sanctions on Myanmar.

Impose sanctions 

The UN Security Council, or the countries themselves, can impose sanctions. The international community needs to impose sanctions on Myanmar’s military. All should consider imposing sanctions on businesses linked to Myanmar’s military.

Sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada on Myanmar’s institutions are a positive step. Other countries need to take similar steps. The army has become reckless since the military coup. Efforts must be made around the world to stop them. The most obvious and peaceful way to do this is to take measures to prevent the army from raising money and weapons.

Only putting pressure, pressure, and pressure on Myanmar’s military can compel the junta to abide by international law and restore democracy. The world community, including ASEAN, must pressure and teach the Myanmar military how to respect all ethnic groups.

ust over a year ago, General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the Myanmar armed forces, ousted the NLD government of Aung San Suu Kyi on allegations of electoral fraud. Democrats in Myanmar have been calling for the Civil Disobedience Movement’s (CDM) non-cooperation against the government.

Although the “Spring Revolution” was a peaceful non-cooperation movement, it was heavily attacked by the military. After various sections of the society, including youths, formed a resistance, the atrocities of the army increased. The remnants of the urban movement once spread all over Myanmar. At least 1,500 civilians have been killed by Myanmar’s military in the past year. In retaliation, the PDF, the military wing of the NUG, known as the Alternative Government, called for the killing of 3,000 soldiers.

Bloody clashes between Myanmar’s military and various armed groups continue to escalate. On the other hand, in 2017, the then UN human rights chief called Myanmar’s “clearance operation” against the Rohingya as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”.

Since the military junta took power a year ago, many young people have been fighting against the military. The combination of the level of violence and the attacks suggests that the conflict is slowly turning into a civil war.

Arms sales 

Despite international condemnation of Myanmar’s military atrocities against the Rohingya, arms sales to the country have not stopped. In addition, various countries have maintained trade relations with the country. China, Russia, India, South Korea, North Korea, Israel, Ukraine and the Philippines have been pushing for a lasting solution to the Rohingya problem while also providing arms to Myanmar.

Myanmar’s military, with the help of its civilian allies, continues to use brutal violence and torture against its own citizens. They have refused to accept democratic reforms, staged coups to seize power, violently suppressed pro-democracy protests, escalated the civil war with armed ethnic groups, and continue to suppress freedom of speech and civil rights.

Even so, in the last four years, trade relations of many developed countries with Myanmar have improved. International support for the Rohingya has also declined. If the world continues to give Myanmar free rein over human rights violations in the interests of trade, what does that mean for global justice and the moral responsibility of the international community?

About the author:

Kyaw Min is a teacher, freelance writer, and a researcher. He is originally from Mandalay, Myanmar, now living in Kauala Lumpur, Malaysia.