Myanmar faces European push at U.N. to condemn coup

REUTERS

Stephanie Nebehay
APAC
FEBRUARY 10, 2021

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations’ top human rights body is to consider a resolution on Friday drafted by Britain and the European Union that would condemn Myanmar’s military coup and demand urgent access for monitors, a text seen by Reuters shows.

Myanmar citizens hold placards as they take part in a protest against the military coup in Myanmar at Bangkok's shopping district, Thailand, February 10, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

However, diplomats said Human Rights Council members China and Russia - who both have ties to Myanmar’s armed forces - are expected to raise objections or try to weaken the text.

Procedural wrangling began on Monday, with Beijing and Moscow raising objections over virtual voting as officials met to plan both the council’s four-week session from Feb. 22 and Friday’s special session on Myanmar.

The U.N. Security Council last week called for the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others detained by the military but stopped short of condemning the coup.