BANGKOK (CHATNEWSTV) — Four years after Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup, plunging the country into crisis, nine nations have issued a joint statement condemning the regime’s escalating violence and calling for urgent humanitarian action.
The statement, signed by representatives from Australia, Canada, the European Union, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, decried the military’s attacks on civilians, including airstrikes that have increased 25-fold since 2021. These attacks have targeted schools, markets, and places of worship, killing civilians in areas with no active conflict.
“We strongly urge the Myanmar military regime to cease violence, release all political prisoners, and engage in genuine and inclusive dialogue,” the group said. “Now is the time for the military to immediately change course.”
Since the coup, humanitarian needs in Myanmar have surged twenty-fold. Nearly 20 million people—more than one-third of the population—require aid to meet basic needs, and 15.2 million face food insecurity. The statement highlighted the rising cases of preventable diseases and the displacement of 3.5 million people within the country, with many fleeing across borders to escape violence.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the escalating violence, including human rights violations and systematic persecution of religious and ethnic minorities,” the statement read.
The signatories reaffirmed their support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its Five Point Consensus, which calls for an immediate cessation of violence and dialogue among all stakeholders. The statement also welcomed collaboration between ASEAN and United Nations special envoys.
“This trajectory is unsustainable, not just for Myanmar but for the region,” the group said, warning of the destabilizing effects of transnational crime, narcotics trafficking, and human trafficking.
The nations underscored the need for accountability for atrocities committed by the military, calling on the international community to back UN Security Council Resolution 2669.
“We will continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and support their vision for an inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous future,” the statement concluded.
