NUG ambassador warns UN that Myanmar junta’s sham election will fuel trafficking and instability

Mizzima

On 26 November, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Myanmar to the United Nations, addressed the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the UN Global Plan of Acton to Combat Trafficking in Persons. In his statement, he asserted that human trafficking in Myanmar is directly rooted in the collapse of the rule of law following the 2021 military coup. 

The content of his statement is as follows.

Trafficking thrives on systemic failure and the collapse of the rule of law.

Myanmar welcomes the “2025 Political Declaration” as a vital milestone signaling that the era of impunity is ending. We thank the co-facilitators, Permanent Representatives of Cyprus and Tajikistan. We also deeply appreciate the Special Rapporteur’s statement, which mirrors the harrowing reality in our country.

In Myanmar, human trafficking is a direct symptom of the collapse caused by the unlawful military coup in February 2021.

People across Myanmar continue to endure the compounded effects of multiple crises.

Now nearly 3.6 million people are being internally displaced nationwide due to the military junta’s widespread and systemic atrocities, including escalating indiscriminate airstrikes against civilians, forced conscription, and rampant human rights violations.

Unfortunately, in their flight, our people face perilous trafficking risks, particularly women, children, and minorities, including the Rohingya. The recent harrowing reports of illicit organ removal are also critically alarming.

The junta’s dismantling of the justice system has regrettably fuelled industrial-scale trafficking where locals are trafficked out due to desperation and foreigners are trafficked in for criminal operations. Moreover, abhorrent modern slavery and sophisticated cybercrime have expanded unchecked, turning Myanmar into a safe haven for Transnational Organized Crime.

The UNODC has highlighted the terrifying reality of “forced criminality” in Southeast Asia, with Myanmar serving as a central theatre. The long list of victims from numerous countries is proof of the severity of the issue and its threat to the region and beyond. No one around the globe is safe from this serious international crime.

In this regard, Myanmar pays tribute to the recent actions taken by our neighbouring countries, regional partners, and international actors. These endeavours align fully with the “3P” approach: protection, prosecution, and partnership.

However, further concrete actions must be taken to dismantle these large-scale criminal gangs.