Myanmar Coup: China, Russia, Providing Lethal Aid to Myanmar Military, Says UN Expert

Myanmar has been under a state of unrest since February 2021, when its generals staged a coup and overthrew the elected civilian government, forcing the country back into military rule. Despite sanctions imposed on Myanmar’s military by the West, a United Nations report found that Russia and China have been providing the Myanmar military with lethal aid.

On Wednesday, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, reported that the Myanmar military has been bringing in $1 billion worth of military assistance since the 2021 coup. Andrews cited the importing of Russian Mi-35 helicopters, MiG-29 fighter jets, Yak-130 light aircraft, as well as Chinese K-8 fighter jets that have been used in conducting air strikes in regions in Myanmar. Such strikes have hit villages, homes, medical facilities, and other civilian sites.

Andrews also cited one particular air strike by the Myanmar military, which took place on April 11 in the Sagaing region. The military carried out an air strike on an event organized by the junta’s opponents, dropping two bombs from a Russian Yak-130, which killed at least 160 people, including nearly 40 children. The Myanmar military has justified the strike by saying that it was targeting the resistance forces and that any civilians that were killed were likely supporters of what the junta has referred to as “terrorists.”

“The good news is that now we know who is supplying these arms and the jurisdictions in which they operate,” said Andrews, calling for UN members to “step up and stop the flow of arms” in Myanmar and enforce a complete ban on arms transfers to the Myanmar military, enforcing the existing bans and other coordinated sanctions.

Andrews also cited trade data in detailing transfers of arms and other goods to the Myanmar military. Russia provided $406 million worth, with China providing $267 million, including from state-owned entities in the two countries. Some state-owned entities in India were also revealed to have made transfers, as well as companies based in India, Singapore, and Thailand.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations said it would not give up on trying to end the violence in Myanmar since the coup despite the lack of progress by the junta in adhering to the bloc’s five-point peace plan, according to current ASEAN chair Indonesia. The comments come amidst frustration among some of the grouping’s member countries, with Myanmar raising questions about the bloc’s effectiveness and unity.

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