Myanmar’s United Nations representative, who represents the alternative civilian National Unity Government (NUG), this week called on the international community for “concrete help” to fight the illegally-installed military junta.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the United Nations was speaking on a webinar on Myanmar entitled “Responding to the Brutal, Escalating Crisis in Myanmar” organized by the Asia Society Policy Institute, held on 3 August.

In a long speech, Kyaw Moe Tun called for help from the international community and for recognition of the NUG as the true representative of the Myanmar people.

The following is an edited and abridged version of his speech:

The world has seen the worst brutality and inhumanity of the Myanmar military constantly and the international community can’t continue ignoring the Myanmar people’s desperate call for help. They need concrete action from the international community and that is what I and the National Unity Government (NUG) have been calling for.

The people freely and democratically elected their representatives in the free and fair 2020 general elections to represent their voices in the national and local parliament Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. The genuine desire and wishes of the whole people of Myanmar had manifested through the result of the elections. However, the military perpetrated an illegal coup on 1 February 2021 under the pretext of the so-called ‘voter lists fraud’ by blatantly disregarding the democratic will of the people as well as by violating the Constitution they themselves wrote. It is an act of high treason.

Independent election observers have concluded that they found no evidence of substantive irregularities.

On Monday 1 August, military dictator Min Aung Hlaing announced in a broadcast speech that the state of emergency was extended for a further six months, saying the country needs more time to return to stability and prepare for elections.

It is completely absurd.

Until 1 February 2021, the country had stability. The elected civilian government successfully held democratic elections. The people had democracy and they enjoyed reasonable freedom accordingly. It is the military which took away all those hard-won privileges and inalienable rights of people.

Here, I wish to highlight the very fact that conflict will never cease as long as the illegal military rule drags on.

The military’s brutality and reign of terror will never bring stability.

That brings me to point out the military junta’s recent barbaric and extrajudicial execution of four democracy activists, Ko Kyaw Min Yu, also known as Ko Jimmy, Ko Phyo Zeya Thaw, Ko Hla Myo Aung and Ko Aung Thura Zaw, despite the appeals made by the international community. Such extrajudicial execution was carried out by the military for the first time in more than three decades. I wish to stress that these executions amount to arbitrary deprivation of lives and another example of the military’s atrocious human rights record. And it is reprehensible. It demonstrates complete disregard for human rights and the rule of law.

Over last eighteen months, the military has engaged in extrajudicial killings, torture, massacres, destroying villages and a massive violation of human rights, amounting to crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The motivation of the military is obvious. It is their last attempt to instill fear in the people and the pro-democracy movement.

Yet despite the military’s atrocities, killings and daily inhumane acts, the strength and determination of the Myanmar people to end military rule and to restore democracy has only grown.

Unity within the democratic forces in Myanmar including with Ethnic Resistance Organizations (ERO) is unprecedented. NUG, People’s Defence Forces and EROs are working together and their cooperation has been further consolidated. We all including NGOs and CSOs are working steadfastly to end the military dictatorship and restore democracy in Myanmar as well as build a federal democratic union.

However, you all agree with me that the situation in Myanmar is further deteriorating. Let me recall what ASEAN Chair Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia said today at the opening of the 55th AMM, “the political and security, and now economic and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, one of our own family, has challenged the ASEAN unity, solidarity and shaken the regional stability”.

We are increasingly concerned that the country is headed to become a failed state.

It is of utmost importance for the international community to take a decisive, effective collective and timely action to end the military dictatorship and to prevent Myanmar from becoming a failed state.

The people of Myanmar persistently state that we are ready to take any cost to end this military dictatorship and restore democracy in Myanmar. We do not want to go back to the system and situation we used to be in before.

Having said that through this virtual event, I wish to appeal to the international community as follows:

First, suspend all international representation of the military junta and prevent any representative of the junta in any regional and international meetings and events;

Second, cut the revenue streams of the inhumane military and its leader and affiliates effectively. It is also important to make sure that the countries in the region cooperate fully and strictly in this regard;

Third, ASEAN steps up further to end the military dictatorship in Myanmar including preventing any representative of the military junta in its meetings and reviewing the Five-point Consensus;

Fourth, the United Nations in particular the UN Security Council act swiftly with all possible measures including through utilization of the principle of R2P by sending troops and military supplies to the united ethnic and democratic forces;

Fifth, taking the example of providing assistance to Ukraine, please provide needed assistance financially and in kind to the people of Myanmar;

Finally, immediately recognize the NUG as a legitimate government of the people of Myanmar.

Clearly, we must not forget normalizing and legitimizing their illegal rule will only prolong instability and suffering in Myanmar.

The international community must not let the military’s atrocities continue. We need unified and decisive action from the international community immediately.