Topic: Open
Country: Vietnam
Delegate Name: Andrew Stinavage
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Vietnam position papers GLIMUN 2009 committees
Myanmar is a major issue that the United Nations must address. The country has been under the oppression of the ruling military junta for the last two decades. Formed in 1988, the junta threw out the results of a democratic parliamentary election in 1990 that was overwhelmingly won by the party led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; who, has been under house arrest ever since. More recently, in the wake of Cyclone Nargis in 2008, the government refused aid from international organizations and the American government. In addition, the dictatorship violently put down a popular unrest in 2007.
The potential global and regional impact of resolving Myanmar is significant. This would enable greater economic growth and development within Southeast Asia and would set an example of progress to be emulated by other nations around the world.
Myanmar and Vietnam share similarities in history and culture including our colonial past. This makes no country better than Vietnam to negotiate a transition from the military rule in place in Myanmar to one more amenable to human rights and willing to enter the global community.
In order to bring Myanmar out of instability, Vietnam supports the efforts to follow a seven-step democratization and national reconciliation roadmap which has gained support from ASEAN, the UN and the international community. Also, Vietnam emphasizes the importance of the UN General Secretary’s intermediary role in this issue and affirms that Myanmar’s future lies in the hands of its people.
Vietnam expects China to be its primary ally on the issue of Myanmar due to our traditional as well as regional ties.
