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Speech by Myanmar’s delegation leader Hon. Dr. Win Myat Aye at the General Debate- “Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding”
ICCG, Geneva
(23-27 March 2024)
Mingalabar!
Dear parliamentary friends,
IPU President,
Distinguished guests,
It is my honor to take part in this assembly and I acknowledge the IPU’s good offices. In today’s world, armed-conflicts are increasing in severity including my country, Myanmar. These conflicts cause damage to the global economy, security and peace and predominantly harm civilians physically and in every area of their lives.
The advent of such conflicts demonstrates failure by the state and non-state actors to respect international laws and obligations. The length and intensity of and the inability to stop or lessen armed conflicts as early as possible, means that the challenges to peace, human rights and development increase exponentially. In diplomacy words are important but can be enhanced by collective and timely interventions.
The question for the global parliamentary family is, …How can we, parliamentarians, help resolve this problem happening in our world? What more can we do to promote peace, to reduce crises and to help our people?… I look forward to exploring this question during the assembly, but I do know that parliamentarians engage in diplomacy every day. It is a key part of how we operate, yet it is not recognised. We also need to promote our contribution in diplomacy.
Like many people from conflict-affected countries, the people of Myanmar ask for your help to reduce the pain being perpetrated upon them by the brutal military junta. Their needs are very simple. These are to support their efforts in ending the illegal military rule in Myanmar and in building a peaceful society which respects international human rights and law. They are resolute in the advance of their agreed political goals, of civilian government and a federal democratic state. The IPU has given exceptional support, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Parliamentarians.
Since the military couped in 2021, 2.7 million people have been forced to flee from their homes to escape the military junta’s onslaught of air and artillery strikes, executions and killings, rapes, torture, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances and persecution. At the present, nearly 19 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance, that includes 6 million children. The recent military junta announcement to uplift the conscription law despite no external threat has served to accelerated displacement, house to house intimidation, corruption and fear with the number fleeing growing exponentially.
We, the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, and its elected representatives, are leading and collaborating with our people to end the military junta’s illegal rule, to end the violence, to restore peace and parliamentary democracy their atrocities as we protect our people and our rights. At the same time, we are working hand-in-hand with the country’s stakeholders to find a solution to the current political situation, using our parliamentary mandates and exercising parliamentary diplomacy. We are trying to bring hope, peace and development to our country. Dialogues among diverse ethnic and political groups are now underway in positive and productive mechanisms.
The disintegrating military junta continues to commit atrocity crimes against the civilian population, their destruction of the economy and every other sector, as their grip on territory abates. They have lost several territories and troops by the nationwide anti-coup resistance. The democratic forces including the elected lawmakers are securing our common goals to lay the groundwork to create a peaceful society for all Myanmar people.
I am confident that this seminar will strengthen our already strong relationship and find a path towards strengthened parliamentary diplomacy that inspires us to continue our work to achieve a peaceful and prosperous and federal democratic Myanmar.
I thank you.
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