***See the Arms Embargo breafing (6 pages) in section Globoteca
Amnesty International is today urging the United Nations Security
Council to immediately impose a comprehensive and mandatory arms embargo on Myanmar, as accounts mount of killings, serious injuries and mass detentions of peaceful protestors by the Myanmar authorities.
Amnesty International is also calling on the principal suppliers of arms
to Myanmar, in particular China and India, in addition to Russia,
Serbia, Ukraine and ASEAN nations, to prohibit the involvement of their
agencies, companies and nationals in the direct and indirect supply of
military and security equipment, munitions and expertise, including
transfers claimed to be 'non-lethal', to Myanmar.
"An unambiguous message must be sent urgently to Myanmar military
leaders that their brutal crackdown on peaceful protestors will not be
tolerated or fuelled by any member of the international community," said
Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
Although official reports speak about nine people killed, Amnesty
International fears the actual number of fatalities is far higher. Over
the past week, Myanmar security forces have raided monasteries and
attacked peaceful demonstrators, firing live bullets as well as tear gas
and beating protesters with batons. At least 1,000 people are believed
to have been arrested in Yangon alone. There is a grave risk that
security forces will continue arrests and react with escalating violence
to any further demonstrations calling for democratic reforms.
“It is unacceptable for states to continue to supply arms to a
government that is already responsible for persistent serious violations
of human rights and which now resorts to violence against peaceful
demonstrators,“ said Ms. Khan.
"A comprehensive arms embargo should remain in place until the
Government of Myanmar takes concrete steps to improve the human rights protection of all, including the release of all prisoners of
conscience," said Irene Khan.
The European Union (EU) and USA imposed embargoes on the direct and
indirect supply of military items to Myanmar in 1988 and 1993 respectively, which need to be strictly imposed.
Demonstrations continue against the backdrop of persistent and massive
human rights violations that have taken place before the current crisis.
These include the prolonged detention of over 1,160 political prisoners
held in deteriorating prison conditions; the continued detention of
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior
opposition figures who are prisoners of conscience; extrajudicial
executions; and the widespread use of torture. There is also endemic
suppression of freedom of expression throughout the country. Use of
forced labour and child soldiers continue. There is evidence that
military operations in eastern Kayin (Karen) state have involved acts
against civilians that constitute violations of international
humanitarian and human rights law on a scale that amounts to crimes
against humanity. Access by independent observers and international
human rights organizations to many parts of the country continues to be
denied.
Background:
China
Since 1988, China has supplied the army in Myanmar with a wide range of
military equipment, including tanks, armoured personnel carriers and
artillery pieces such as howitzers, anti-tank guns, anti-aircraft guns
and jet aircraft according to published sources. China has not regularly
reported its arms transfers to the United Nations.
India
In January 2007, the Indian Foreign Minister promised to give a
"favourable response" to the Myanmar Government’s request for military
equipment, and in April military forces from Indian and Myanmar were
conducting joint military exercises. Reports refer to an Indian
agreement to supply a variety of military hardware such as tanks,
aircraft, artillery guns, radar, small arms and an 'Advanced Light
Helicopter' which is highly likely to contain components, technology and
munitions originating from member states of the European Union and the USA.
Russian Federation
Also in 2007, the Russian Federation reported to the UN that it exported
100 large calibre artillery systems to Myanmar during 2006. Russia also
exported ten combat aircraft in 2002, four combat aircraft in 2001, and
the Russian MIG military aircraft company had a representative office in
Myanmar in October 2006.
Serbia
Between 2004 and 2006, Serbia supplied Myanmar with large amounts of
military weapons and munitions, including ammunition, according to
customs data.
Ukraine
In April 2004, the Ukrainian state owned arms company, UkrpetsExport,
agreed a ten year contract to supply 1,000 armoured personnel carriers
to be assembled in Myanmar as part of a deal worth reportedly in excess
of US$500 million, and in 2004 Ukraine told the United Nations that it
had exported ten BTR-3U armoured combat vehicles and ten R-27 missiles to Myanmar in 2003.
