UN assembly condemns military coup in Myanmar

The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday to condemn the military coup occurring in Myanmar and passed a resolution calling for other countries to participate in an arms embargo in response to the coup.

The vote passed with 119 members voting “yes,” 36 countries abstaining from the vote and one country, Belarus, voting “no,” The Associated Press reported.

The assembly was hoping to unanimously vote in favor of the resolution, but members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were torn on the decision with some voting “yes” and some abstaining from the vote. 

There were long negotiations between ASEAN and many Western countries before the resolution was put up to a vote, according to AP.

The military coup in Myanmar occurred back in February due to officials claiming, without evidence, the country’s democratic election in 2020 was rigged. 

Thousands have been jailed and hundreds have been killed during protests of the new military government.

The country’s deposed leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other officials from the party that won the election in 2020 are facing corruption charges under the new government.

The military claims it will give up its power and hold new democratic elections in the future, but has not given a timeline for it. 

Although Myanmar has faced international condemnation since the coup began, a formal rebuke from the U.N. General Assembly is noteworthy due to how rare it is, AP noted.