Topic: 2025 – Situation in Myanmar
Country: Malaysia
Delegate Name: Kenji Crawford
Special Political and Decolonization
Situation in Myanmar(Burma)
Malaysia
Kenji Crawford
Forest Hills Eastern
Ever since Myanmar’s, then called Burma’s, independence and the assassination of Aung San in 1947, Myanmar has been replete with conflict, instability, poverty, and a desperate need for humanitarian assistance. The 2011-2015 political reforms gave the international community brief hope. Still, quickly those were dashed with the Rohingya crisis in 2016, and subsequently international hopes for an even somewhat democratic Myanmar were thoroughly squashed with the military coup of the National League for Democracy(NLD) in 2021. Ever since, there has been a civil war between the Myanmar military and the NLD’s government in exile, the National Unity Government(NUG), along with multiple Ethnic Armed Organizations(EAOs). The 7.7 magnitude earthquake in March of this year, which caused around 4,000 deaths and tens of thousands of injuries, has only served to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis within the country. After the earthquake, the UN rapidly coordinated a multi-organization response to get urgent humanitarian aid into Myanmar and distribute it to people in need of assistance, along with a specialized United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team. Despite this united effort to provide aid to the people of Myanmar, the military, which holds power within Myanmar, has on multiple occasions blocked this aid from reaching those who need it. The accumulation of all these issues has not only devastated stability in the country and surrounding regions but also has, according to Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, created “one of the world’s worst humanitarian and human rights crises,” with upwards of 2 million refugees, and an estimated more than 3 and a half million internally displaced people within Myanmar.
Malaysia recognizes the Myanmar crisis to be both a regional security concern and a moral obligation for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which both Malaysia and Myanmar are members. Malaysia has taken steps to enact the 5-Point Consensus (5PC) within ASEAN: “First, there should be an immediate cessation of violence, and all parties shall exercise utmost restraint. Second, constructive dialogue among all parties concerned shall commence to seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the people. Third, a special envoy of the ASEAN Chair shall facilitate mediation of the dialogue process, with the assistance of the ASEAN Secretary-General. Fourth, ASEAN shall provide humanitarian assistance through the AHA Centre. Fifth, the special envoy and delegation shall visit Myanmar to meet with all parties concerned.” The 5PC was signed on April 24th, 2024; however, the implementation of this plan has stalled due to a lack of cooperation from the Myanmar Junta. Malaysia advocates for a dialogue-centered approach, allowing for communication with all parties involved, including the Myanmar government, the NUG, and the EAOs. Malaysia also stresses the preeminence of humanitarian efforts through the use of international aid corridors and negotiated access agreements. In the case of a surrender by the military junta, Malaysia supports the establishment of a UN-monitored and mediated interim transitional government while dialogues continue with stakeholders.
Malaysia encourages the United Nations to organize and institute humanitarian aid corridors through the use of negotiated access agreements and cross-border humanitarian operations, with international monitoring mechanisms, to keep these agreements free from political manipulation. Malaysia recommends the creation of an ASEAN-UN Joint Mission to assist Myanmar in drafting a democratic constitution should the Junta capitulate or lose control of the majority of its population centers. Malaysia urges more countries to join international efforts to stabilize the situation and donate humanitarian aid. Malaysia is willing to contribute money and humanitarian aid, as well as partial funding of any UN or ASEAN-UN missions to help stabilize and resolve the crisis within Myanmar.
Works Cited:
https://dppa.un.org/en/mission/special-envoy-myanmar
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/doctors-dogs-dollars-who-is-giving-aid-myanmar-after-earthquake-2025-03-31/
https://www.kln.gov.my/web/guest/foreign-policy
https://myanmar.un.org/en/305575-unicef-myanmar-humanitarian-situation-report-no-2
https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/Chairmans-Statement-on-ALM-Five-Point-Consensus-24-April-2021-FINAL-a-1.pdf
https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/rohingya-crisis
https://www.internal-displacement.org/countries/myanmar/
