THE Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) has called on the United Nations (UN) Security Council to take responsibility for international action in response to the growing crisis in Myanmar. 

SAC-M, an independent group of international experts working to support the people of Myanmar in their fight for human rights, peace, democracy, justice and accountability, said Asean’s 5-Point Consensus (5PC) reached between Asean leaders and the leader of the Myanmar military is a failure, with no significant progress made towards its implementation after 12 months. 

A member of SAC-M, Chris Sidoti, said the UN Security Council backed Asean and its 5PC, but that Asean and its consensus have failed. 

“There is now no alternative but for the UN Security Council itself to take the lead and take the responsibility for meaningful action on Myanmar. The UN Security Council cannot continue to ignore the cries of the people of Myanmar for international action to end the military’s violence,” he said in a statement. 

Meanwhile, SAC-M called on Asean to maintain permanently its rejection of the military junta from participation in Asean meetings as a consequence of its abrogation of the 5PCs. 

SAC-M also called on Asean to work with the National Unity Government of Myanmar to develop a new roadmap towards resolving the crisis, starting with the urgent provision of cross-border humanitarian assistance. 

A year on after adopting 5PC, it said Asean has failed to fulfil its pledges to take meaningful steps towards pressing the junta to end its human rights violations. 

On April 24 last year, the 5PC was reached in Jakarta, two months after the Myanmar military launched an illegal coup and a subsequent attack on the population of Myanmar in response to their ongoing resistance. 

The 5PC agreed to by the leader of the military, Min Aung Hlaing, were for the immediate cessation of violence; constructive dialogue among all parties concerned; the appointment of a special envoy of the Asean chair to facilitate mediation of the dialogue; provision of humanitarian assistance through the AHA Centre, and a visit of the special envoy to Myanmar to meet all parties. 

As of April 11, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Myanmar said a total of 566,100 people have been displaced by clashes and insecurity since the February 2021 coup. 

It also said about 346,000 people have been displaced mainly in Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, and Shan due to conflict prior to February 2021. 

According to human rights organisation Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, at least 1,780 civilians had been killed while over 10,000 people have been arrested and almost 1,000 jailed since the coup. – Bernama, April 23, 2022.