The United Nations special envoy for Myanmar has urged the UN Security Council to take action against the country’s military coup warning a “bloodbath” is imminent from the escalating crisis.
More than 520 people have been killed since the military junta seized power on 1 February from democratically-elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
UN special envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener told a session of the UN Security Council on Wednesday that action must be taken to prevent the country from descending into "civil war".
"[The] urgency for a solution to this crisis could not be clearer," she said.
Ms Schraner Burgener added that without a meaningful response to reverse the course of events “a bloodbath is imminent.”
Pro-democracy demonstrators have filled the streets in Myanmar for nearly two months to protest the coup and detention of Ms Suu Kyi.
Tensions with ethnic armed groups have also flared since the military’s coup broke out with fears rising of a return to armed ethnic conflict in Myanmar.
Ms Schraner Burgener said the increasing tensions with ethnic groups opposed to the coup has raised "the possibility of civil war at an unprecedented scale”.
“The military’s cruelty is too severe and many [armed ethnic fighters] are taking clear stances of opposition,” she said.
Myanmar's junta on Wednesday night announced it was implementing a unilateral one-month ceasefire in an apparent response to rising tensions with ethnic armed groups.
Protesters carry an injured protester during a demonstration against the military coup. Source: AFP
The statement, carried on Myanmar's state television MRTV has called on ethnic armed groups to "keep the peace".
However, the Junta has also declared it will make an exception for actions that disrupt the government’s security and administration - appearing to be a reference to daily pro-democracy demonstrations.
On Saturday the military launched the first airstrikes in Karen state in 20 years after a rebel group seized a military base.
The action has forced at least 1,000 more refugees to flee into the jungle and neighbouring countries.
Some Karen armed groups have already agreed to join the pro-democracy resistance movement and provide security for the people in their areas.
One group, the Karen National Liberation Army, has also warned it is bracing for an “onslaught” following the actions of Myanmar's military.
The ethnic armed group holds large areas of territory in the eastern border areas of Myanmar.
Other ethnic armed groups known as the Brotherhood Alliance, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the powerful Ta’ang National Liberation Army and Arakan Army, have also threatened to end a ceasefire with the military in response to mass killings.
The Lowy Institute’s Hervé Lemahieu said the military’s violent crackdown since seizing power had reignited concerns of civil war breaking out in Myanmar.
“In a way, Myanmar’s always been in the stage of an unresolved civil war - multiple civil wars - which go back decades,” he told SBS News.
“But what makes the situation different now is that the Myanmar military is having to essentially fight wars on multiple fronts.”
He said the unfolding mass pro-democracy movement from protesters and tensions with armed ethnic groups meant the country appeared to be edging closer towards becoming a “failed state”.
“That is also leading to international concerns that the situation in Myanmar is rapidly spiralling out of control - that no one is in charge - [and] the Myanmar military has overreached and is losing its grip on the country.”
Ms Schraner Burgener has also warned any breakout in civil conflict would most heavily impact vulnerable groups in the country, including the Muslim minority Rohingya.
“Inevitably, the whole country is on the verge of spiralling into a failed state," she said.
Ms Schraner Burgener has called on the UN Security Council to act towards bringing an end to the coup, warning the situation on the ground is deteriorating.
Protesters stand near a burning barricade during a protest. Source: AFP
“Consider all available tools to take collective action and do what is right, what the people of Myanmar deserve and prevent a multi-dimensional catastrophe in the heart of Asia," she said.
She said she remained open for dialogue with the junta, but added: “If we wait only for when they are ready to talk, the ground situation will only worsen."
Last weekend witnessed the military coup’s bloodiest crackdown on protesters with at least 114 people killed on Saturday.
At least 43 children have also been killed by armed forces in Myanmar in the two months since the military seized power, according to Save the Children.
The UN Security Council has so far issued two statements expressing concern and condemning violence against peaceful protests.
With Reuters
