Myanmar army must cease violence first. After visiting Myanmar’s military commander, Ban Ki-Moon stated the military “must take the first steps” to cease bloodshed.
Ban visited Myanmar this week to broker peace between junta commander Min Aung Hlaing and reformist ex-president Thein Sein.
Since February 2021, Myanmar has been in turmoil as the military struggles to consolidate control and fight ethnic minority militants and an armed pro-democracy movement.
“I came to Myanmar to urge the military to adopt an immediate cessation of violence, and start constructive dialogue among all parties concerned,” Ban said in a “The Elders” statement.
The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar said that Ban and Min Aung Hlaing “exchanged views on the latest progress of Myanmar and cordially discussed it with constructive attitudes.”
During his surprise visit on Sunday, Ban, a South Korean, encouraged the generals to implement a 2021 ASEAN peace agreement.
Ban “warned that… holding elections under current conditions risks further violence and division, and the results not being recognised by the people of Myanmar, ASEAN and the wider international community”.
In February, Min Aung Hlaing stated multi-party elections should be held “as the people desire” without a deadline.
Ban supported political and economic changes under retired general Thein Sein before the coup overturned them.
Violence in Myanmar continues unabated. Opposition groups and media say a military air attack on a hamlet on April 11 killed over 100 people.
Her party was dissolved, and Suu Kyi is serving 33 years in prison for denying many offenses.
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