Good morning, everyone. And sorry about that.
Um, thank you for joining us at this press conference by, uh, Tom Andrews,
who is a special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar.
And we'll begin with opening remarks by Mr
Andrews and then open the floor for questions.
With that I hand over to Mr Andrews.
first of all, I want to thank you for, uh, participating in this news conference.
Um, you could be forgiven if you came to the conclusion that Myanmar does not exist.
There's been a vacuum of attention focused on Myanmar and the crisis in Myanmar.
The world is obviously distracted by other crises around the world.
extraordinary developments in within Myanmar
that we need to pay attention to.
And unlike some of the other
very difficult situations in the world,
there is a ray of hope in Myanmar.
There is the opportunity that we can turn this around,
but we need to begin by paying attention. The junta of Myanmar are like mushrooms.
and the more attention we can focus on this country,
the greater the chance of success that we have. As you probably know,
being a journalist is, um, a very dangerous
It's one of the most dangerous places for journalists to be in the world.
So they rely upon the media
to shine light on the conditions in Myanmar.
thank you for your attention.
As I mentioned in my remarks yesterday
to the Human Rights Council, there is good news and there is bad news.
Uh, the good news has been generated by broad-based
vigorous citizen opposition and
the success of O of opposition,
uh, forces Resistance Forces.
The junta now controls less than half of the country.
They have lost tens of thousands of troops
to defections to casualties,
uh, they have lost, uh, hundreds of military outposts.
They have lost dozens of towns and villages,
so they're on the run. They're they're they're on their back heels.
Uh, significant momentum is working against them.
And for the people of Myanmar now,
the bad news is is that they have responded to this
in attacks, aerial attacks on
civilians. And the reason for this is is that for them it's dangerous
for their troops to move around on the ground. So instead,
they're taking, uh, the aerial, uh,
air the aircraft that they've been able to obtain from abroad
and kill innocent civilians. A five time increase.
There has been a doubling
of those who have suffered
from landmines. Significant increases in the laying of landmines is occurring,
and that has devastating impact
not only for the people who are immediate victims,
but the hunter is placing these
on fields, farming fields.
the need for humanitarian aid and the increase in,
uh malnutrition in the country
designed to make life as difficult as possible, including the laying
of landmines. This is unconscionable.
And and speaking of unconscionable,
probably the the the community that is impacted the most
Rohingya are now being bombarded.
Like other areas of the country,
their villages are being bombarded
by heavy artillery and by airstrikes.
But Unlike other areas of the country,
they are not allowed to move to safety.
So they are sitting ducks, as it were
for this influx of of of bombardments from the military junta
now the military, because they've lost tens of thousands
that came across my desk is that they've lost over 60,000 troops since the junta
This all began in 2000 and, uh, one since the coup.
Um, and their conscription programme that they've announced
5000 young people now, young men,
um, into military service per month.
In other words, 60,000 troops, new troops at the end of the year, it's not gonna work.
It's simply not gonna work If you've seen the lines,
Uh, at the, uh, the Thai embassy,
uh, in Yangon, you'll see it doesn't work.
Uh, people I've spoken with are telling me. Look, uh, young people are either
they're trying to get visas or they're crossing the border in
any way that they can or they're joining resistance forces.
This conscription programme is kind of the formalisation
uh, of a forced recruitment process that has been going on for months now,
um, in which, uh, families, Villages. Village leaders are intimidated
who are calling upon them setting quotas for them
young people, uh, into military service.
It didn't work then. It's not working now. In fact, it's backfiring. It is
to the widespread public opposition
Rohingya family with a young person
to join the very military
that is barrage your villages with these aerial attacks. The very military
sending hundreds of thousands of Rohingya over the border into Bangladesh.
as horrific is that kind of situation faced by by the, uh, by the Rohingya.
there are, uh, several things that I have recommended,
that I'm I'm very happy to expand upon,
but it seems to me that we as an international community
that the approach that we have taken
and that the success that we've seen
inside of Myanmar is precisely because of the
courage and tenacity of the people who live
They need and they deserve the support of the
international community support that they are not getting support.
That could make a significant difference.
Unlike some of these other conflicts in the world, there is a ray of hope
There is the possibility that there could be success
There could be an end to this nightmare. If the international community
were to mobilise and focus
its attention on this country and to take action
that could make a difference.
Here's what I think needs to happen. Uh, number one.
We need to take away the money that the junta requires in order to continue its reign
co ordinated, focused, targeted sanctions. Same with me.
Weapons number two, we need to take weapons
away. Stop the flow of weapons from the international community
the junta number three. We need to stop this idea of their legitimacy.
They'll do anything and everything possible
and they do so whenever any member of the international
community treats them as if they are a legitimate government.
And ladies and gentlemen, they are not.
And the fourth thing I would highly recommend is that we focus on accountability,
that we make it clear that those who are
involved in these atrocities will be held accountable.
And I've made some specific suggestions
as to how that might, uh, take place.
Now we've seen over the past year some positive signs. There have been some,
uh, sanctions, new sanctions. Banking sanctions, for example,
on the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank was announced by the United States last year.
joined those sanctions this year. That's extremely important,
uh, to be cutting off access to, uh, revenue,
uh, through the, uh, sanctions of the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank.
We need to have other entities. Everyone in that Human Rights Council
who spoke in favour of human rights,
uh, in yesterday's session
need to go to their country and say we need to join the world
in establishing targeted strategic
sanctions. Right now, you see sanctions popping up here and there,
usually in reaction to something,
uh, some atrocity that occurs, or an anniversary
The international community should be focusing on
the points in which we can make the greatest difference in applying sanctions
coordinate the application of those sanctions on
those points that is not happening.
to tell you that God's on the street, I don't know. I don't know. Uh, why, why, that is,
so that's extremely important.
The accountability I've suggested that we, uh,
the the the countries who are members
of the International Criminal Court member states,
uh, of the International Criminal Court can consider,
uh, to exercise under article 14 of the Rome statute,
uh, to request that the prosecutor,
uh, initiate an investigation,
uh, of crimes in the country
the national unity government, uh, making a declaration,
uh, that, uh, the, uh that Myanmar, uh,
should be subject to the jurisdiction of the court
for crimes committed. Uh, since 2002, I think we should seize this opportunity.
I make, uh, three other points. Uh, that, I think, is our important number.
Uh, the first of those three, humanitarian aid,
uh, is incredibly important. And the problem that we have right now
is that humanitarian aid is not going
in the to the areas that need it most. And I'm talking about the conflict areas,
of, uh, this of of sack, uh, administered areas of the country.
This is the the fastest growing
that is where most of the people growing numbers of people in the country that need
humanitarian aid are There are 18.6 million people
who are in need of humanitarian aid.
when I started as special rapporteur, that number was 1 million.
Uh, in 2020 it's now 18.6.
We need to be. And I was very impressed. I was in, uh, Thailand just, uh, two weeks ago,
organisations and networks
that are providing aid directly
to those areas that are most affected. They're positioned,
They have the infrastructure in place. They have the staff in place.
They have the capacity in place.
They don't have the resources to get the aid to the people in desperate need.
Uh, that is unacceptable.
focusing more of our energy and attention
that have that, uh, capacity that are under-resourced
Um uh the other, uh, area I just wanna, uh,
talk about that's important is that we need,
as an international community to support those in Myanmar toward the transition
Um, the writing is on the wall.
Uh, momentum is heading in the right direction.
What is important right now
uh, Myanmar, that enfranchises the very rich and diverse community
Uh, that process is underway.
Uh, the national unity government, uh, ethnic resistance organisations
Uh uh CSO S. Other stakeholders are engaged in discussions.
We need to support that process
and we need to provide the the the the the tools that are needed,
uh, to establish that foundation so that
when that moment arrives and I'm telling you it's going to arrive
and it may arrive very soon. We're ready,
And the ne the great needs that will be
there for the people of Myanmar and the high expectations
that will that will be there by the people of Myanmar will
be able to be met we need to get that ready now.
Let me say one other thing about the rohingya,
um and and and entertain any questions or comments that you might have,
um, in addition to the crisis that they face in the country.
Uh, there are nearly a million people Rohingya
people still in the camps,
Uh, they they're not getting adequate food rations.
Uh, they're expected to survive on 32 cents per day.
And that, by the way, is after an, uh, a slight uptick in food rations.
Last year, there was a cut of their rations,
but from from $12 a month down to eight, it's now been brought up to 10.
That that's good news. But it's not enough.
And the Children, the Rohingya Children in these camps
from malnutrition from stunted growth. This is permanent damage.
Um, violence is increasing in the camps.
Um, because of various terrorist groups that are that are operating there.
The result of all this is that last year
uh, to get on very unseaworthy vessels
put their fate and the fate of their families, uh, into the hands of smugglers,
what they hope would be something that would be,
uh, that they would be able to survive.
drove those people onto those boats. 66% of those 4500 were women and Children.
And the and the these these journeys were perilous. I was in,
last year. I met with many who had taken those journeys. They They described
the condition. So imagine this. They've they've escaped
from these genocidal attacks.
They are, They're they're faced in another, a very difficult situation.
try to escape. Uh, once again,
con con conclude by saying this. You know, there there are certain myths
that, uh, you hear time and again. And I heard them,
that this is an internal matter
that the human rights issues that I have have raised
are an internal matter within Myanmar.
uh, in camps in Bangladesh.
This is not an internal matter for those countries in the region
that are facing influxes of people
literally running for their lives.
This is not an internal matter.
Uh, I I learned about when I was in Thailand about the expansion of these
that are now situated on the border of Myanmar.
Because of the lawlessness of Myanmar, it is unbelievable.
We're talking about tens of thousands of people 120,000
victims, human trafficking victims
to operate these these these scams,
these international scams and they're reaching the entire
giving up billions of dollars
billions of dollars that are being used to fuel these atrocities
as a result of these scam centres.
Uh, that's not an internal matter
that's affecting all of us.
And then I mentioned yesterday and I'll conclude with this
uh, Department of Justice, uh, ran a sting operation
And that sting operation They,
uh uh it was a It was a scheme
nuclear weapons materials.
We're talking about uranium
uh, and to sell them to the highest bidder
they the the the sting operation led to arrests. That's the good news. The bad news is
the source of those nuclear weapons materials was Myanmar.
that the crisis in Myanmar is an internal matter.
It is a matter for the region
and it's a matter for the world. It's a matter for all of us.
And I implore the world to pay attention to what's going on in the me in in Myanmar.
Take action to address what's happening in Myanmar
and to be able to lay the groundwork for a new Myanmar
and a new opportunity for peace and security in the region
Thank you. And I'm happy to take
any questions or comments.
We'll take questions from the room first and then move on to those of us online.
Please state your name and organisation.
Thank you for taking my question. My name is Christoph
I had a question on the sanctions. It seems that Russia shows that
either sanctions are really co ordinated on a
very large scale or it doesn't really work.
how do you see that For Myanmar?
They clearly have very important allies that would make
sanctions more or less useless the way we think.
And also I would like you to elaborate on you
were pointing out to Singapore and the crackdown on weapon
do you see other actors that could do
something similar that would really make a difference?
Uh, on the ground. Thank you.
Thank you very much. That's a very good question.
first of all I know from the research that we're doing,
the sanctions that have been in place are disrupting operations for the junta.
secondly, we know that, uh, and and you mentioned Singapore.
I think it's a It's a It's a good example when I
released my report last year the billion dollar death trade Singapore,
And and let's be clear, as you point out,
Russia is the single largest source of weapons for the junta.
China, uh, comes in at number two, Singapore.
Uh, when I filed that report was number three,
with, uh, $254 million worth of weapons materials,
and these are materials that were going into the country.
And then they were using them in manufacturing weapons manufacturing, uh,
factories inside of the country.
So, uh, Singapore immediately launched an investigation.
I and I made it clear last year that
there was no evidence that they were either
involved nor aware that this was going on.
Um, they asked for additional information. They asked for assistance
with their investigation. I flew to Singapore,
uh, met with them, met with the attorney general and other officials,
provided them with additional material.
I was very happy to report uh yesterday that there's been an 83% reduction,
uh, in these materials coming from entities based in, uh,
So we know that they're having an impact, that these sanctions are having an impact.
We know that they're being disruptive,
and we know that countries like Singapore are are responding
in a very constructive way
to calls for tightening the sources of weapons and money
just not enough as I as I mentioned we we
need to coordinate them and it's possible it is pos
the sanctions on the banks, the Ma, the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank.
and as a result of that, and and And I have not mentioned this to this point, but I will.
Um, I am conducting right now a follow up investigation
these, uh, sanctions that are being applied to banks including the main,
the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank
and the affiliated banks that they have the networks
that are in business with or connected to,
Um, I've written to dozens and dozens of banks around the world.
Uh, who have we have learned? May have a connection.
Um, and so we are in the process right now of,
uh, engaging in research,
uh, both in terms of weapons and financing, and we'll be,
um, making that. Hopefully, I'll be publishing that,
But But I can tell you right now that we know that disruption is occurring,
we know that these things are working.
We just need to build, uh, build upon them.
Any other questions in the room?
If not, we'll move to Jamie Keaton from
Good. Uh, morning. Uh, Mr Andrews, Um, thank you for coming to see us.
Um, I just had a couple of quick questions.
Um, I wanted to know if, um to speak specifically to the news today.
Of course, it's coming out of Myanmar.
Uh, the, uh there was a non sale. There was no bidders that, uh, stepped forward.
And the court, um, ordered
And I'm just wondering if you could give us your take on that. Um, is
there any sort of political message to be understood there,
or is it really just a family matter?
And then the second question is about, um, Thailand's humanitarian corridor plan.
Um, could you say whether you think that's a good idea,
or is that just window dressing for the junta?
Thank you. Uh, for that question, I, I really don't have a comment on the first time.
I I'm just not been I'm not aware
of of, uh, any of the details surrounding,
uh, that, uh, that auction, so I'm afraid I can't
I can't comment at this moment.
but the humanitarian corridor,
to be perfectly Frank II, I don't think it's a good idea for two reasons.
humanitarian aid into the hands of the junta.
Um, because it goes into the hands of the,
uh, the hunter controlled,
that the junta takes these resources, including humanitarian and weaponizes them
uses them for their own military
The fact of the matter is,
is that the reason that humanitarian aid is in such desperate need
is precisely because of the junta.
for humanitarian aid. 18.6 million people
since the coup are in need of humanitarian aid. So to put
humanitarian aid into the hands
of those that are driving the need for humanitarian aid,
uh, to me is not a prudent way to,
uh, attempt to get humanitarian aid where it needs to be,
Um, and secondly, and that's that's That's the other, uh, issue.
Um, humanitarian aid needs to go
to areas that are in desperate need.
And those are the conflict areas in which the, uh, the the the the, uh, junta,
uh, influence or control whatsoever.
Uh, so those are the areas we need to focus on.
That's what we need to be sending,
And the last thing we need to be doing
is providing any additional resources
uh, the military hunter. So, I, I would, um
uh, I would hope that, uh, uh,
humanitarian aid efforts are focused. Um,
and not in the direction of the junta.
Uh, Nick from New York Times.
Yeah. Thank you for the question.
You say sanctions are disrupting the military effort.
They don't appear to be disrupting the airstrikes. What is what is sustaining?
Uh, the capacity of Myanmar's air force to to
continue this intensive bombardment by air.
the fact that Thailand is providing aid that is weaponized by the junta. What?
What does that also tell you then?
About asean's approach to, uh, dealing with the junta?
Um, you know, so much of the international community has deferred to
asean leadership, uh, in in dealing with,
it doesn't appear to be producing anything Value.
Thanks very much for that question. I. I know that, um
This is a sensitive issue, I. I was, um
uh criticised. Uh, yesterday by an
ASEAN member for for criticising Uh uh,
I. I just think that it's self evident.
the five point consensus in April of 2001
uh, they did so as a result of a conference of of leaders of Myanmar,
try to stop the crisis. This was April. This was a few months after it began.
Uh, men and lying was was there,
and men and lying agreed to the the five point consensus. The first point
was the cessation of violence.
And as I mentioned yesterday, the ink was barely dry in that document when me
and dismissed the five point consensus as mere suggestions
and proceeded to accelerate
his campaign of murder and mayhem. Now it seems to me
that after all of this time, after nearly three years
after the five point consensus was established,
to examine whether or not
the five point consensus is working.
I think it is self evident
that it's not, it has not stopped
stop take a deep breath and look at options,
the fact that the killing continues and it see, And I suggested yesterday,
uh, with all due respect,
uh, to those, uh, who are representing
conditioned. There needs to be a prerequisite
for engagement with the junta.
We know that the junta uses any engagement as a propaganda tool
to try to provide the the this idea,
this myth that it's legitimate, that it's being,
uh, recognised as legitimate and respected by the international community.
It's not legitimate. So we need to condition
Uh, with the junta, it seems to me
honouring the five point consensus,
respect the five point consensus
and start with point number one
Uh, and I and I understand that, uh,
And I respect anyone and everyone, including all
for trying to address this question.
And this and this This issue
they have tried time and time and time again to make progress.
But the fact is, the killing continues
with with respect to the bombardment.
as I mentioned in the billion dollar death trade,
Uh, and as I will expand upon in a in a a future follow up document,
um, these aircraft are are,
uh, coming from the international from from abroad. Russia,
uh, is the single largest source,
um, of these types of weapons.
Uh, China coming in at number at number two.
criticised again for for that report. Uh,
in fact, China actually, uh, criticised me for,
in their words, vilifying normal arms trade.
And I'm pointing out the fact that if we know and we do know
that these weapons are being used to kill innocent people,
including those in ID P centres,
then we need to stop it. We need to stop empowering literally
from killing innocent people with the sophisticated weapons of war.
the overwhelming majority are not
military targets. They're civilian targets, civilian targets,
these heavy artillery and these aircraft,
um, jet fighters as well as helicopter gunships.
are what are creating all of this mayhem and and and and killing people.
it's a tough nut to crack.
I I'll I'll be honest with you.
Um, we've seen important progress Singapore. A perfect example,
but not so much when it comes to the leading supplier, uh, Russia.
Russia is not giving these weapons to the junta.
They're selling the weapons to the junta.
um, through these targeted sanctions on banking institutions, by shutting
the the the variety of ways that they're getting access to these weapons,
Uh, and by virtue of of the money that they're obtaining,
stop their ability to buy these weapons.
but that's that's a that's it's a big challenge. And in order to meet that challenge,
we need to have a fundamental change
in how we're applying these sanctions. We've got to do it in a coordinate
and I'll tell you something I finish with with this.
I don't know why this is so difficult. I don't know why it's
for countries to to who care about human rights. And I you know, they
they spoke eloquently yesterday
on the floor of the Human Rights Council
why those countries can't sit down in a room together
analyse what they believe will be the most effective approach.
What are the the the the targets
that will have the greatest impact in terms of, uh, sanctions,
uh, monetary sanctions weapon sanctions
sanctions in, uh, applications and enforcement on those targets?
I don't know why that is so difficult, but I can tell you something.
If if if the international community, if everyone who spoke
in support of human rights and support of the people
of Myanmar if their nations were to do that,
I think it would make a significant
Thank you, Miss Andrews. Is there Are there any other questions?
Um, just just one question on, uh, you you started with, um
where you find that, um, little grain of optimism.
And And what makes you think that things could change? Actually, quite quickly.
That's I think, what you said.
Uh, it's a very good question.
it's from the people of Of, Of of Myanmar from within Myanmar.
They're making extraordinary
there's a a broad based opposition movement, you know, and I ta talked to people
the people of Myanmar overwhelmingly opposed. If
you know this myth that the, uh you you you need to have the hunter,
the military as a unifying force
in in the country that without them there would be chaos.
Well, it's just the opposite.
Is is true, except for this that the junta is unifying the country against it.
There's no question about it. And
um, they will not buy anything
that is even indirectly associated with the junta. There's a citizen.
Sanctions are being applied in that country
to, uh to to the junta. And there's also various forms of civil disobedience
that continue in the country.
Uh, there are pop up, uh, demonstrations in various parts of the country at
to, uh, give people a greater, uh,
hope and visibility that there's an opposition movement.
and then there's the the,
and the significant gains
that they have made literally hundreds and
hundreds of outposts have been captured.
Thousands, uh, tens of thousands of of troops
have been, uh, have been lost to the junta.
uh, the hope is coming from inside of the country.
Um, the hope is coming from some of the some steps
that have been taken by some countries, including Singapore.
but we need as an international community to do much
more to support the people inside of the country.
I believe we are ne We are close, and this is the other point of optimism.
that we could be We could be very close to,
ending this nightmare with the people of Myanmar
that that that their progress has been significant
uh, is the international community to to to translate that
Thank you. Uh, are there any other questions for the special rapporteur?
Don't see any hands, uh, up online.
Nothing more in the room. So
if there are no more questions,
we will now close this press conference with many thanks to the special rapporteur
and thank you all for joining us.
