MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Myanmar, one year after the coup

8.3.2022 - (2022/2581(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Urmas Paet, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Olivier Chastel, Vlad Gheorghe, Klemen Grošelj, Bernard Guetta, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dragoş Pîslaru, Michal Šimečka, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Ramona Strugariu, Dragoş Tudorache, Hilde Vautmans
on behalf of the Renew Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0141/2022

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B9‑0144/2022

European Parliament resolution on Myanmar, one year after the coup

(2022/2581(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Myanmar, in particular those of 22 November 2012, 20 April 2012, 20 May 2010, 25 November 2010, 7 July 2016, 15 December 2016, 14 September 2017, 14 June 2018, 13 September 2018, 19 September 2019, 11 February 2021 and 7 October 2021,

– having regard to the Council conclusions of 21 February 2022 on Myanmar,

– having regard to the statements of the Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) on the situation in Myanmar,

– having regard to the Association of Southeast Asian Nation’s Five Point Consensus of 24 April 2021,

– having regard to the reports and statements of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Council

– having regard to the statements by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Myanmar of 23 September 2021 and by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Thomas H. Andrews, of 22 September 2021,

– having regard to the conclusion of the public hearings on the preliminary objections raised by Myanmar of 28 February 2022 on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by the Republic of the Gambia in the case concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar),

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

– having regard to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the additional protocols thereto,

– having regard to Rule 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

1. whereas on 1 February 2021, the military of Myanmar, known as the Tatmadaw arrested President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as leading members of the government, seized power over the legislative, judicial and executive branches of the government by means of a coup d’état, and declared a one-year state of emergency, until February 2022;
2. whereas in August 2021, the commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing, announced that he was appointing himself Prime Minister and that the state of emergency would be extended with yet another 1,5 year until August 2023;
3. whereas in May 2021, the military junta took initial steps to dissolve the political party of Aung San Suu Kyi, which was in government until the coup d’état of February 2021;
4. whereas the Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and the National Unity Government (NUG) were formed to represent the democratic wishes of the people of Myanmar;
5. whereas since 1 February 2021, politicians, government officials, civil society representatives, religious actors, peaceful protestors and writers have been unlawfully arrested; whereas the declaration of the High-Representative of 31 January 2022 states that since the coup, 1 500 people have been killed and military authorities have arrested over 8 600 people; whereas the courts have sentenced to death 80 people; whereas over 400 000 people have been displaced since the coup d’état;
6. whereas torture, mass killings, arbitrary arrests, sexual violence, and other abuses are widely used against protesters, journalists, health workers, and political opposition members;
7. whereas violations of the freedom of religion or belief and other human rights are being perpetrated against religious and ethnic minorities in Myanmar;
8. whereas Myanmar’s Citizenship Law declares the Rohingya ‘non-national’ or ‘foreign residents’ and therefore deprives them of citizenship, which further exacerbates their precarious situation; whereas the persecution of the Rohingya minority has not ended, despite numerous calls by the international community;
9. whereas the humanitarian situation in Myanmar has been worsened by the COVID-19 crisis; whereas crowded prisons and the overall neglect of prisoners’ health have contributed to an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections; whereas the right to health is being undermined; whereas the junta has shut down hospitals and targeted medical professionals, leading to the collapse of the health system as COVID-19 surges across the country;
10. whereas the Tatmadaw and its generals are illegally securing funds through the illegal sale of timber, gems, gas and oil, and are faced with widespread allegations of corruption;
11. whereas the military junta is receiving fighter jets and armoured vehicles from China and Russia; whereas these are used against the civilian population since the coup last year; whereas Serbia has authorised rockets and artillery for export to Myanmar military;
12. whereas the Myanmar junta has expressed its support for Putin’s war on Ukraine;

 

1. Strongly condemns the coup d’état of 1 February 2021 executed by the Tatmadaw under the leadership of commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing; calls on the Tatmadaw to fully respect the outcome of the democratic elections of November 2020 and to immediately reinstate the civilian government, end the state of emergency, end the use of violence against peaceful protesters, respect the right to freedom of expression and association, and allow all elected parliamentarians to assume their mandates;
2. calls on Myanmar’s military to release all political detainees, to reverse restrictions on the freedom of expression, assembly and association, and to respect the freedom of religion or belief;
3. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of President Win Myint, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and all others who have been arrested on unfounded accusations; considers the release of all political leaders and prisoners the first essential step towards a peaceful solution to the crisis and the restoration of the legitimate authorities;
4. Expresses its support for the people of Myanmar in their struggle for democracy, freedom and human rights;
5. Denounces the Tatmadaw’s nationwide repression of protests and human rights violations against the people of Myanmar, which amount to crimes against humanity;
6. Supports the CRPH and the NUG as the only legitimate representatives of the democratic wishes of the people of Myanmar, and calls on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the international community to include and involve them in genuine and inclusive political dialogue and efforts aimed at the peaceful resolution of the crisis based on respect for the rule of law;
7. Calls for an immediate, rigorous, independent and transparent investigation into the crimes committed in the country by the military and for their perpetrators to be brought to justice;
8. Reiterates its condemnation of the human rights violations and systematic and widespread attacks against the Rohingya population;
9. Calls for immediate humanitarian access to and assistance for vulnerable communities; asks the Commission to redirect and step up humanitarian aid;
10. Notes with grave concern that the humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar; urges the junta to re-establish the access to healthcare services and vaccines for people; Insists that the Commission steps up its support in this regard, including by providing doses of COVID-19 vaccines;
11. Welcomes the recent appointment of an EU special envoy to Myanmar; calls on the EU special envoy to support ASEAN and UN actions to restore the peace and democracy in Myanmar;
12. Calls on the ASEAN, its members and its Special Envoy to Myanmar to guarantee the effective and meaningful implementation of the five-point consensus with a view to achieving the sustainable and democratic resolution of the current crisis;
13. Welcomes the recent rounds of sanctions imposed by the Council against government ministers, a member of the State Administrative Council, members of the Union Election Commission, and high-ranking members of the Tatmadaw; calls on the Council and the international community to continue imposing strong targeted sanctions;
14. Calls on the EU delegation to Myanmar and the embassies of the Member States to closely monitor the human rights and health situation in Myanmar and the cases of political leaders and others who are currently detained and imprisoned;
15. highlights the need for the further investigation of the situation by the International Criminal Court;
16. Calls on the Member States and associated countries to maintain the embargo on the direct and indirect supply, sale and transfer, including transit, shipment and brokering, of all weapons, munitions and other military, security and surveillance equipment and systems, as well as the provision of training, maintenance and other military and security assistance;
17. Strongly condemns the supply of arms and military equipment to the Tatmadaw by China, Russia and Serbia; Highlights that these parties are of full knowledge that these weapons would be use against a civilian population; Stresses that those countries which are supplying arms to the Myanmar Junta are directly responsible for the atrocities committed with these arms;
18. Strongly condemns the Myanmar junta’s support to the illegal war Russia is waging in Ukraine;
19. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the legitimate President and National Unity Government of Myanmar, the Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, the State Counsellor of Myanmar, the Tatmadaw, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Member States of ASEAN, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Human Rights Council.