Philippines-Myanmar relations

Philippines dissociates from UNHRC resolution on Myanmar crisis

Pauline Macaraeg

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

(UPDATED) 'The Philippines cannot stress strongly enough the primacy of national internal efforts towards democratic reforms, and never by the imposition of foreign solutions whether in regional or multilateral contexts, including through this Council,' the Philippines says

The Philippines has joined China, Russia, Venezuela, and Bolivia in dissociating itself from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on the human rights implications of the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.

The resolution, which was adopted without a vote, called for the immediate and unconditional release of Myanmar’s political prisoners, including civil leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. It also urged the lifting of the state of emergency in Myanmar, and called on its officials to refrain from using violence on people protesting against the military coup.

The Philippines manifested its position in its statement for the Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the human rights implications of the crisis in Myanmar, which the Department of Foreign Affairs posted on its website on Saturday, February 13.

“The Philippines will settle for nothing less than, and nothing else but the complete restoration of the status quo in which Myanmar had made so much progress,” the Philippines said.

“As a sovereign country in a world of sovereign states, the Philippines cannot stress strongly enough the primacy of national internal efforts towards democratic reforms, and never by the imposition of foreign solutions whether in regional or multilateral contexts, including through this Council. We reaffirm our support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar,” it added.

Dissociation does not mean a vote against the resolution, but it means that the same thinking is not shared with those who joined the consensus.

Must Read

EXPLAINER: Crisis in Myanmar after army alleges election fraud

EXPLAINER: Crisis in Myanmar after army alleges election fraud

The Philippines said it has been “supportive of Myanmar’s progress towards a fuller democracy, cognizant of the Army’s role in preserving its territorial integrity and national security, as well as the unifying role of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in the history of the country and Army her father founded.”

“The Lady is a deeply and widely admired icon of democracy among the Filipino people who identify with her and her people, given similar struggles against tyranny in the not distant past; struggles that culminated in the complete restoration of democracy by unprecedented and entirely domestic efforts that inspired similarly successful efforts in the rest of the Cold War world,” it said.

“Myanmar made important strides towards democratization in the past decade with the political presence of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, constitutional constraints on her key political role notwithstanding,” the Philippines added, citing Myanmar’s engagement in the Universal Periodic Review in January.

Countries that adopted the UNHRC resolution include Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Slovakia, Spain, and the United Kingdom, among others.

The Philippines, through Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr, earlier released its position on the Myanmar crisis on Tuesday, February 9. It called for the “complete restoration” of the status quo in Myanmar, where thousands have opposed a military takeover of its democratically elected government.

Here’s the full statement of the Philippines:

The Philippines has been supportive of Myanmar’s progress towards a fuller democracy, cognizant of the Army’s role in preserving its territorial integrity and national security, as well as the unifying role of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in the history of the country and Army her father founded. The Lady is a deeply and widely admired icon of democracy among the Filipino people who identify with her and her people, given similar struggles against tyranny in the not distant past; struggles that culminated in the complete restoration of democracy by unprecedented and entirely domestic efforts that inspired similarly successful efforts in the rest of the Cold War world. It has called for the complete restoration of the status quo ante, on which the full realization of this democratic process can only be achieved.

Myanmar made important strides towards democratization in the past decade with the political presence of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, constitutional constraints on her key political role notwithstanding. This was clear in Myanmar’s engagement in the Universal Periodic Review last month. The Philippines will settle for nothing less than, and nothing else but the complete restoration of the status quo in which Myanmar had made so much progress.

As a sovereign country in a world of sovereign states, the Philippines cannot stress strongly enough the primacy of national internal efforts towards democratic reforms, and never by the imposition of foreign solutions whether in regional or multilateral contexts, including through this Council. We reaffirm our support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar.  Thank you, Madame President.

– Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Avatar photo

author

Pauline Macaraeg

Pauline Macaraeg is digital forensics researcher for Rappler. She started as a fact checker and researcher in 2019, before becoming part of Rappler's Digital Forensics Team. She writes about the developing digital landscape, as well as the spread and impact of disinformation and harmful online content. When she's not working, you can find her listening to podcasts or K-pop bops.