UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION DEMANDS END TO MYANMAR VIOLENCE

The United Nations Security Council has adopted its first resolution on Myanmar in 74 years, which demands an end to violence and calls on the country’s military rulers to release all political prisoners, including democratically-elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar’s military seized power from Suu Kyi’s elected government in February 2021, arresting her and other officials, and has responded to pro-democracy protests and dissent with lethal force that has killed several thousand people and seen more than sixteen thousand jailed.

China and Russia, who have supported Myanmar’s military leaders since the coup, abstained from the UN vote on Wednesday, along with India while the remaining 12 members of the powerful council voted in favour of the resolution.