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UN envoy tells Myanmar navy to halt executions, finish violence | Navy Information

Noeleen Heyzer held direct talks with military chief, however was unable to fulfill jailed civilian chief Aung San Suu Kyi.

The United Nations’ particular envoy on Myanmar has referred to as for an finish to violence and the discharge of all political prisoners on her first go to to the troubled nation since her appointment final 12 months.

The navy seized energy in February 2021, hours earlier than the nation’s new parliament was resulting from sit, detaining elected chief Aung San Suu Kyi and members of her civilian authorities.

Since then, Aung San Suu Kyi has been tried and jailed on a slew of expenses and nonetheless faces many extra, whereas hundreds of anti-coup activists have been arrested. Some 2,215 folks have been killed within the navy’s crackdown on its opponents, in keeping with the Help Affiliation for Political Prisoners, which has been monitoring the violence.

Late final month, the navy regime executed four political activists in Myanmar’s first use of the dying penalty in additional than 30 years. Among the many useless was Phyo Zeya Thaw, a former legislator from Aung San Suu Kyi’s Nationwide League for Democracy celebration.

UN Envoy Noeleen Heyzer met coup chief Min Aung Hlaing on Wednesday and Heyzer’s workplace mentioned she had “instantly urged” him “to impose a moratorium on all future executions”. She additionally referred to as for a right away finish to the violence and the discharge of all political prisoners, together with former Aung San Suu Kyi adviser Sean Turnell, an Australian economist.

UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq mentioned whereas Heyzer had requested to fulfill Aung San Suu Kyi, she had not been in a position to take action.

He described the assembly between Heyzer and the military chief as “a very good dialogue” and mentioned the UN will see whether or not her key calls for can be carried out. The UN will “proceed to push on these factors,” he added.

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the disaster, led largely by the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have made little progress, with the generals refusing to ship on a peace plan that was agreed upon final 12 months.

Even whereas Heyzer was in Myanmar, a spokesperson for the navy administration lashed out on the 10-member group for excluding its generals from regional gatherings, accusing it of caving to “exterior stress”.

Some members of ASEAN, which Myanmar joined in 1997, just lately indicated that the group might be pressured to go additional if the navy continues to stall.

Talking at a daily press convention, spokesperson Zaw Min Tun rubbished ASEAN’s strikes.

“If a seat representing a rustic is vacant, then it shouldn’t be labelled an ASEAN summit,” Zaw Min Tun mentioned.

“What they need is for us to fulfill and discuss with the terrorists,” he mentioned, utilizing the generals’ label for pro-democracy actions which have taken up arms in opposition to the navy.

In a gathering with Heyzer, the military-appointed overseas minister referred to as on the world physique to “constructively and pragmatically assessment its method in its cooperation with Myanmar”, in keeping with a press release.

Singaporean sociologist Heyzer was appointed by UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres final 12 months, changing Swiss diplomat Christine Schraner Burgener, who had been blocked from visiting Myanmar.

Schraner Burgener had referred to as for the UN to take “very sturdy measures” in opposition to the navy and was the goal of standard assaults in Myanmar’s state-backed media.

State-run MRTV tv reported on Heyzer’s go to, saying the envoy and Min Aung Hlaing exchanged views on selling belief and cooperation between Myanmar and the United Nations. It didn’t present any particulars on the talks, which passed off in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw.

Heyzer harassed within the assertion as she left Myanmar that “UN engagement doesn’t in any means confer legitimacy” on the navy’s administration.

“The folks of Myanmar have the proper to democracy and self-determination free from worry and wish, which can solely be doable by the great will and efforts of all stakeholders in an inclusive course of,” she mentioned.

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