UN Diplomat Says Myanmar Military Regime Leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing Should Be Replaced

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing leading a meeting of the Myanmar military regime. (Source: gnlm.com.mm)

JAKARTA - Recognizing Myanmar's military regime as the country's government will not stop the escalating violence, the UN special envoy to Myanmar said on Monday, warning such a move would push the country towards instability and into a failed state.

"I hope the international community will not give up. We have to stand with the people," Christine Schraner Burgener, who finished this weekend after more than three years in office, told Reuters as quoted October 26.

Protests and unrest have crippled Myanmar since the February 1 coup, with the Myanmar military regime accused of atrocities and excessive force against civilians. Meanwhile, the regime blamed the unrest on "terrorists" allied with the shadow government.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday appointed Singapore's Noeleen Heyzer, a former senior UN diplomat, as his new special envoy on Myanmar.

Schraner Burgener said last week that Myanmar had experienced civil war, opportunities for return to democracy were missing and the military was "not interested" in compromise or dialogue.

Myanmar's military regime denied the remarks on Monday, saying the comments were far from reality and reflected UN bias.

"The violence will not stop if one accepts the SAC as a legitimate government, the violence will not stop," Schraner Burgener said, referring to the State Administration Council (SAC), as Myanmar's military regime is called, on Monday.

The Swiss diplomat said a real and honest dialogue was needed between all parties. But for that to happen, Myanmar's military regime leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing must first be replaced by someone more constructive.

Southeast Asian leaders will meet this week, but without Min Aung Hlaing, a rare exception by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc, which is usually known for its principle of non-interference.

"No one in the region is interested in recognizing the SAC because that would mean a state of failure, of instability, not only in Myanmar, but also in the region," said Schraner Burgener.

The UN is also faced with rival claims about who will sit on Myanmar's seat on the world body.

A decision by member states, described as important by Schraner Burgener will be made at the end of the year. Either the junta or the current Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, appointed by the elected government of ousted Aung San Suu Kyi, must represent the country in New York.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.