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China, Russia veto US draft resolution on Myanmar
UNITED NATIONS (updated on: January 13, 2007, 11:20 PST): China and Russia vetoed on Friday a draft UN Security Council resolution urging Myanmar's rulers to free all political detainees and end sexual violence by the military, dealing Washington a major setback.
The rare double veto by China and Russia came despite attempts by the United States to water down the draft's language.
Nine countries backed the text, which was co-sponsored by Britain.
The last time a multiple veto was used in the 15-member Security Council was in 1989 when the United States, Britain and France blocked a resolution on Panama.
Last November, the United States used its veto to block an Arab-sponsored draft that would have called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. Russia last used its veto in 2004 while China last used it in 1999.
Also opposing the text on Friday was South Africa, which early this month joined the council as a non-permanent member.
Indonesia, like Myanmar a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Qatar and Congo abstained.
Opponents of the text said the Myanmar issue did not represent a threat to international peace and security and was best handled by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council.
China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya conceded there were problems but said "they do not represent a threat to international peace."
"China believes there's no need for the UN Security Council to get involved," he noted, adding "the council should not usurp the powers of (other) organs of the UN."
The United States said it was "deeply disappointed" by the rejection of the resolution.
"We believe the proposed resolution would have been a powerful tool in our efforts to help the long-suffering people of Burma," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said.
"The Security Council has an obligation to uphold the universal values of human rights as enshrined in the UN Charter," he said. "The United States will continue to work for effective Security Council action to defend human rights world-wide."
Washington's acting UN ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the resolution would have been a "strong and urgently needed statement" by the council about the need for change in Myanmar.
Wolff accused the regime of torturing, raping and executing its own people as well as waging war on minorities and looking the other way while drug and human trafficking grows.
South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo said the text would "compromise the good offices of the (UN) Secretary General," particularly the mediation efforts led by UN Under Secretary General Ibrahim Gambari, and should be handled by the Human Rights Council.
He pointed out that ASEAN had specifically said the Myanmar issue was not a threat to regional peace and security.
Indonesian Ambassador Rezlan Jenie, whose country like Myanmar is a member of ASEAN, said the issue was "not a proper subject of a Security Council resolution."
Last year, the United States lobbied hard and succeeded in September in having the Myanmar issue put on the Security Council agenda.
The US draft expresses "deep concern at the slow pace of tangible progress in the process of national reconciliation in Myanmar and at the continuing detention of political prisoners," including democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
It appeals to Myanmar rulers to "unconditionally" release Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been kept under house arrest for more than 10 of the past 17 years, and all political prisoners.
It also calls on the junta to allow her opposition National League of Democracy (NLD) as well as other parties to "operate freely."
The United Nations has estimated there are 1,100 political prisoners in Myanmar, which has been ruled by the military since 1962 and was formerly known as Burma.
The draft also urges an end to military attacks against civilians in ethnic minority regions and stop "widespread rape and other forms of sexual violence carried out by members of the armed forces" against people belonging to "ethnic nationalities."
Thursday, the NLD urged the Security Council to back the US draft, saying it contains "no punitive actions" and focuses mainly on the establishment of national reconciliation through dialogue.
A US-based dissident group lamented the Chinese, Russian and South African rejections of the draft.
"By rejecting the proposed resolution, they effectively signal to the Burmese military junta to continue its crimes against humanity and its war on its own citizens," said Aung Din, policy director of the US Campaign for Burma in Washington.
brecorder.com
UNITED NATIONS (updated on: January 13, 2007, 11:20 PST): China and Russia vetoed on Friday a draft UN Security Council resolution urging Myanmar's rulers to free all political detainees and end sexual violence by the military, dealing Washington a major setback.
The rare double veto by China and Russia came despite attempts by the United States to water down the draft's language.
Nine countries backed the text, which was co-sponsored by Britain.
The last time a multiple veto was used in the 15-member Security Council was in 1989 when the United States, Britain and France blocked a resolution on Panama.
Last November, the United States used its veto to block an Arab-sponsored draft that would have called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. Russia last used its veto in 2004 while China last used it in 1999.
Also opposing the text on Friday was South Africa, which early this month joined the council as a non-permanent member.
Indonesia, like Myanmar a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Qatar and Congo abstained.
Opponents of the text said the Myanmar issue did not represent a threat to international peace and security and was best handled by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council.
China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya conceded there were problems but said "they do not represent a threat to international peace."
"China believes there's no need for the UN Security Council to get involved," he noted, adding "the council should not usurp the powers of (other) organs of the UN."
The United States said it was "deeply disappointed" by the rejection of the resolution.
"We believe the proposed resolution would have been a powerful tool in our efforts to help the long-suffering people of Burma," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said.
"The Security Council has an obligation to uphold the universal values of human rights as enshrined in the UN Charter," he said. "The United States will continue to work for effective Security Council action to defend human rights world-wide."
Washington's acting UN ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the resolution would have been a "strong and urgently needed statement" by the council about the need for change in Myanmar.
Wolff accused the regime of torturing, raping and executing its own people as well as waging war on minorities and looking the other way while drug and human trafficking grows.
South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo said the text would "compromise the good offices of the (UN) Secretary General," particularly the mediation efforts led by UN Under Secretary General Ibrahim Gambari, and should be handled by the Human Rights Council.
He pointed out that ASEAN had specifically said the Myanmar issue was not a threat to regional peace and security.
Indonesian Ambassador Rezlan Jenie, whose country like Myanmar is a member of ASEAN, said the issue was "not a proper subject of a Security Council resolution."
Last year, the United States lobbied hard and succeeded in September in having the Myanmar issue put on the Security Council agenda.
The US draft expresses "deep concern at the slow pace of tangible progress in the process of national reconciliation in Myanmar and at the continuing detention of political prisoners," including democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
It appeals to Myanmar rulers to "unconditionally" release Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been kept under house arrest for more than 10 of the past 17 years, and all political prisoners.
It also calls on the junta to allow her opposition National League of Democracy (NLD) as well as other parties to "operate freely."
The United Nations has estimated there are 1,100 political prisoners in Myanmar, which has been ruled by the military since 1962 and was formerly known as Burma.
The draft also urges an end to military attacks against civilians in ethnic minority regions and stop "widespread rape and other forms of sexual violence carried out by members of the armed forces" against people belonging to "ethnic nationalities."
Thursday, the NLD urged the Security Council to back the US draft, saying it contains "no punitive actions" and focuses mainly on the establishment of national reconciliation through dialogue.
A US-based dissident group lamented the Chinese, Russian and South African rejections of the draft.
"By rejecting the proposed resolution, they effectively signal to the Burmese military junta to continue its crimes against humanity and its war on its own citizens," said Aung Din, policy director of the US Campaign for Burma in Washington.
brecorder.com
