General Assembly General Assembly

UNGA Adoption of Resolution on Myanmar

(18 June 2021; 1500 EDT)

 

Explanation of Vote

 

Mr. President,

 

I would like to explain our vote on the draft resolution on the “Situation in Myanmar”.

 

As the country that shares both land and maritime borders with Myanmar, India has direct stakes in the maintenance of peace and stability in Myanmar.

 

In this regard, India welcomes the ASEAN initiative on Myanmar and the ‘Five-Point Consensus’. Our diplomatic engagements will be aimed at strengthening these efforts. We also call for upholding the rule of law and release of detained leaders.

 

The Security Council has also expressed strong support for ASEAN’s positive and constructive role in facilitating a peaceful solution in support of the people of Myanmar. The Security Council has also called for an early visit of the ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar.

 

Mr. President,

 

India’s position on the situation in Myanmar has been clear and consistent.

 

We have expressed our deep concern on the developments in Myanmar. We strongly condemn the use of violence and urge maximum restraint.

 

We are firm that the path to democracy in Myanmar should continue to move forward through the process of democratic transition, which India has steadfastly supported. There can be no turning back on this.

 

India will continue to engage with measures to accelerate and support the democratic transition in Myanmar, so that the hopes and aspirations of the people of Myanmar are fully respected and met.

 

Mr. President,

 

On the issue of the repatriation of the displaced persons from the Rakhine state in Myanmar, as the only country that shares a long border with both Bangladesh and Myanmar, India has the highest stakes in resolving this issue at the earliest. We have continued to counsel our partners on the need for a balanced and constructive approach to this issue. Our support has been for people on the ground, at both Cox’s Bazar and in the Rakhine State.

 

We commend Bangladesh for hosting a million displaced persons in its territory. It is important for the international community to recognize and understand the humanitarian burden that Bangladesh continues to face and the efforts it has undertaken to ensure the well-being of the displaced persons and to further support, financially and otherwise, efforts of the Government of Bangladesh.

 

It is also important to ensure that the efforts towards safe, speedy and sustainable repatriation of the displaced persons currently in Bangladesh to the Rakhine State of Myanmar, be expedited. We call on both sides to engage actively in this regard.

 

Mr. President,

 

As Myanmar’s immediate neighbour and close friend of its people, we are cognizant of the serious impact of political instability and the potential of its spillover beyond Myanmar’s borders. India has been calling for greater engagement with the objective of peacefully resolving all issues.

 

We already have such an ongoing initiative under the aegis of ASEAN. It is important that we extend support to the ASEAN efforts. During the discussions on this resolution, we had engaged in a spirit of finding a constructive and pragmatic way forward and had accordingly shared our suggestions to those who piloted this resolution.

 

However, we find that our views have not been reflected in the draft adopted today. We would like to reiterate that a consultative and constructive approach involving the neighbouring countries and the region, remains important as the international community strives for the peaceful resolution of the issue.

 

The fact that there is lack of support from all neighbouring countries and from several countries in the region itself should, hopefully, serve as an eye-opener to those who choose to pursue a hasty course of action.

 

We therefore do not believe that the tabling of this resolution for adoption at this juncture, was conducive to aiding our joint efforts towards strengthening democratic process in Myanmar.

 

We were therefore constrained to abstain.

 

I thank you Mr. President.

 

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