UN Security Council calls for ASEAN Myanmar plan to be enacted

TheUNSecurityCouncilcalled Friday for an immediate end to violence inMyanmaras stated in anASEANplan, giving unanimous approval to a statement watered down to satisfy China and Russia.

Theplan, which alsocallsfor the naming of an envoy from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to address the crisis triggered by the February 1 military coup, should be applied "without delay," thecouncilstatement says.

It was approved after a closed-door meeting of thecounciland forced Western countries to make concessions to China,Myanmar's main backer,and Russia to win passage.

At their request, thecouncileliminated clauses that said it "once again strongly condemned violence against peaceful protestors" and "reiterated their call on the military to exercise utmost restraint."

A diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity explained the changes saying "what we must avoid is losingcouncilunity to the point of making it irrelevant."

Since the coup inMyanmar, thecouncilhas approved four statements on the crisis including this latest one of Friday. All of them were toned down under pressure from China.

Friday's session was convened by Vietnam to present the conclusions of a recentASEANsummit in Indonesia.

The statement that was ultimately passedcallsfor theUNSpecial Envoy toMyanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, who is currently touring the region, to be able to visitMyanmar"as soon as possible."

Schraner Burgener gave a report on her long meeting withMyanmarjunta leader General Min Aung Hlaing, held on the sidelines of theASEANmeeting last weekend.

Diplomats said the envoy, who is currently based in Bangkok, once again had her request for avisittoMyanmardenied.

During the meeting, Brunei, which currently holds the presidency ofASEAN, floated the idea of a joint visit toMyanmarby theUNenvoy and her futureASEANcounterpart.

"We estimate around 20,000 internal displacements and almost 10,000 fleeing to neighboring countries since February. The regional implications require urgent action," Schraner Burgener told thecouncil, according to the text of her speech, which was seen by AFP.

"The common aspiration for democracy has united the people ofMyanmaracross religious, ethnic and communal divides like never before. Such strong unity has created unexpected difficulties for the military in consolidating power and stabilizing the coup," she added.

Nearly 760 civilians have been killed by police and soldiers in the past three months, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

The junta puts the death toll at 258 dead by April 15, calling the demonstrators "rioters" who engaged in "acts of terrorism".