22 May 2026 By Ko Myo
NEW YORK, United Nations — Myanmar’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, has launched a fierce appeal to the UN Security Council, demanding immediate and binding resolutions to halt the military junta’s unchecked atrocities against civilians.
Speaking during an open debate on “Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict” on Thursday, 21 May, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun stated that mere expressions of diplomatic concern from global bodies have failed to deter the regime’s daily, indiscriminate airstrikes on residential sectors and public infrastructure.
The ambassador pointed out that the military’s ongoing violence represents a flagrant disregard for UN Security Council Resolution 2669 (2022) and General Assembly Resolution 75/287, as well as ASEAN’s stalled Five-Point Consensus.
He emphasized that these repeated breaches clearly justify a follow-up, enforceable Security Council resolution. Specifically, he urged member states to launch comprehensive, coordinated mechanisms to choke off the flow of weapons, dual-use technology, and aviation fuel reaching the military administration.
“Statements of condemnation do not stop fighter jets,” the ambassador argued, noting that rushed or unprincipled re-engagement with the junta only serves to legitimize their war crimes and crimes against humanity.
A border-based political columnist echoed this frustration, telling MPA: “The international community should feel a sense of collective shame. For over five years, they have provided the people of Myanmar with nothing but rhetorical support, while failing to offer any practical, life-saving intervention on the ground.”
Highlighting the structural nature of the regime’s violence, Kyaw Moe Tun urged the Security Council to close accountability gaps by formally referring the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC). He noted that the junta’s actions are already under intense international scrutiny, including the ongoing genocide case brought by The Gambia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
According to figures cited by the envoy during the session, more than 8,000 civilians have been killed by security forces since the illegal 2021 coup. Furthermore, over 3.6 million people remain internally displaced, and nearly 22 million citizens are currently dependent on emergency humanitarian assistance.
The ambassador also issued a stern warning against the junta’s recent bureaucratic reshuffles and nominal name changes within its administrative committees, describing them as a standard diversionary tactic.
“Altering titles or modifying the names of regime bodies does not equate to institutional reform or a genuine commitment to regional peace,” Kyaw Moe Tun stated. He concluded by urging international stakeholders to ignore the regime’s political theater and instead align their policies entirely with the democratic aspirations of the Myanmar populace.
