Topic: 2025 – Situation in Myanmar
Country: Greece
Delegate Name: Asher Ndenga
Committee: Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL)
Topic: The Situation in Myanmar
Country: Greece
School: Mattawan High School
Delegate Name: Asher Ndenga
The Greek delegation considers the situation in Myanmar to be of utmost importance. The military coup of 1962 marked the beginning of the conflict between the military junta of Myanmar and certain Ethnic Armed Organizations (EOAs). This coup diminished hope for a Myanmar where ethnic minorities could have autonomy. In August of 1988 during the 8888 protests, Aung San Suu Kyi and her Nation League for Democracy (NLD) became leading figures in the pro-democracy movement. Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD provided open party elections, which led to a landslide victory for the NLD in 1990. The military junta denied the election results, arrested, and imprisoned elected officials, restricting their political activities. In 2008, the military-led government approved a new constitution in which there would be a civilian-led government, but ultimate power would be reserved for the military. Consequently, Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD won a major electoral victory in 2015 in which the NLD now had control of the parliament. The next election in 2020 added to the majority of the NLD, in which the military-backed party lost four seats in both legislatures, which resulted in accusations of fraud and the subsequent coup. Some members of NLD formed the National Unity Government (NUG) after their organization was expelled by the military. After they had enough time to reorganize, the NUG and NLD declared war on the junta, which has led to a devastating civil war. This war also has caused an escalation in an already deteriorating human crisis. Since the civil war began, the NLD was forcibly removed by the military junta and Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested and charged with corruption, sedition, violations of coronavirus restrictions, and illegal importation of walkie-talkies.
The United Nation has done its part in ensuring the safety of the people in Myanmar. The UN offered humanitarian aid to Myanmar after its earthquake by providing clean water, emergency shelters, healthcare, and protection to thousands of people displaced by the disaster. Agencies like the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) work diligently to assist refugees and internally displaced citizens by expanding access to basic services and supporting self-reliance. The UNHCR has also ordered the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) to gather evidence of human rights abuses and the UN has called for the protection of citizens and has viewed the obstruction of humanitarian aid as a violation of human rights. On December 21, 2022, the United Nations passed resolution 2669. This resolution called for an end to the violence, expressed deep concerns over the state of emergency, demanded for the release of all arbitrarily detained persons, and urged for full humanitarian access.
Greece has historically been an advocate for democratic principles and condemns the atrocities of the military junta in Myanmar. Greece was controlled by a military junta for almost nearly decade in the late 1960s to the mid 1970s, so there is an understanding of this situation. Greece has engaged with the UNHRC to discuss the situation in Myanmar and has expressed full support for the work of the UN Special Envoys there. As a member of the European Union (EU), the nation of Greece has numerous sanctions placed on the government of Myanmar. These sanctions include arms embargoes, asset freezes, travel bans, and restrictions on dual-use goods.
The delegation of Greece urges the UN to hold the government of Myanmar accountable for their wrongdoings while offering continual aid to the vulnerable ethnic minorities residing in the nation. With the support of international justice systems, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), are able to hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes. A wave of support and humanitarian aid for the marginalized communities of Myanmar would keep civilians safe and empower the EOAs to fight for democracy. The situation in Myanmar should be taken care of with the utmost thoughtfulness and strategy.
