China, Vietnam block joint statement against genocidal Myanmar in UN Security Council

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 February 2020, 20:12 GMT]
The Republic of China, one of the five UN Security Council (UNSC) permanent members and Vietnam, one of the ten nonpermanent members for the 2020-2021 term, were opposing a joint declaration on Myanmar earlier this week. The proposed statement was seeking Myanmar to comply with the recent provisional judgement delivered by the International Court of Justice at a closed-door meeting of the UNSC. Meanwhile, all the permanent members of the UNSC, except China, seem to be backing India on the status of the occupied Kashmir. However, UNSC’s EU member states, France, Estonia, Germany and Belgium issued a joint statement urging Myanmar to “comply with the provisional measures indicated by the ICJ.”

The statement said such compliance was “compulsory under international law.” It was also signed by Poland, a former Security Council member and EU state.

Despite gaining global attention, the national questions of Rohingyas and the Kashmiri people are being dodged by the veto-politics of the UNSC.

China has recently elevated its relationship with Myanmar, which it earlier described as “comprehensive strategic partnership” with Myanmar to the highest level characterising it now as “Sino-Myanmar Community of Common Destiny”.

In the meantime, Pakistani leaders and leading journalists have started to blame Indian for trying to divert global attention from its illegal annexation, calling what they perceive as impending genocide on Kashmir.

Statement published by the Permanent mission of France to the United Nations in New York on 04 February 2020:

European statement to the press on Myanmar

We had a meeting today to discuss developments in Myanmar, in light of order of the International Court of Justice on the request of the indication of provisional measures in the case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar for violating its obligations under the Genocide convention.


Current and previous Security Council members of the European Union noted also that the Independent Commission of Enquiry submitted its Final Report to the Government of Myanmar on 20 January 2020 and released an Executive Summary of the report.


We urge Myanmar to comply with the provisional measures indicated by the ICJ, which we recall are compulsory under international law, and to take credible action to bring to justice those responsible for human rights violations. 


Myanmar must address the root causes of its conflicts, in Rakhine State, but also in Kachin and Shan States. Accountability of perpetrators of human rights and humanitarian law violations is a necessary part of this process. Myanmar must also create conditions for and facilitate a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingya to Myanmar.

We recall the PRST of the Security Council of 6 November 2017 and reiterate our call to implement the recommendations of the Annan Commission.

External Links:

Eurasia News:		Genocide in Kashmir: India Stands Exposed to International Community
New York Times:		UN Takes No Action on Order Against Myanmar on Rohingyas
Al Jazeera:		Imran Khan on 'genocide' in Kashmir and possible war with India

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