UN calls for urgent halt to arms sales to Myanmar

GBNEWS24DESK//

Countries should do more to prevent revenues and arms from reaching a military in Myanmar that is ruling by repressing and terrorising its people, the United Nations human rights office said on Friday.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since a coup early last year, with the military fighting a pro-democracy resistance movement and arresting thousands of its opponents, while struggling to manage an economy battered by domestic and global upheaval.

The UN has accused the junta of mass killings and crimes against humanity. It says it is fighting “terrorists” determined to harm the country, reports Reuters.

In Friday’s report, the office called for the military to be isolated further and said it had failed to govern the country in a meaningful and sustainable way, or resolve a “profound financial sector crisis”.

It recommended UN members impose bans on arms sales and targeted sanctions to prevent the military’s business network from gaining access to foreign currency.

“The international community should take all steps within its power to support the people of Myanmar and to answer calls for the military’s financial isolation,” it said.

“Prompt coordinated action should be considered to minimise pre-emptive evasive actions.”

The United States, Britain, Canada and the European Union have imposed wide sanctions on Myanmar but trade has continued with its neighbours and several countries have kept supplying defence hardware to the junta.