After the Myanmar coup d'état in 2021, international society expressed concerns with one voice. The Myanmar military regime should stop using force and violence and start a conversation promptly. However, international organizations have been criticized for not functioning as they are supposed to and for their lethargic response.
On February 1st, a joint statement by the High Representative on behalf of the Republic of Korea, the European Union, Albania, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States was issued for the one-year anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar. The statement asked for immediate violence suspension and for the initiation of a constructive dialogue among all parties for peaceful conflict resolution. Participating countries urged the Myanmar military regime to end the State of Emergency, allow unhindered humanitarian access, release all arbitrarily detained persons, including foreigners, and swiftly return the country to the democratic process.
The Republic of Korea was the only country that joined the statement among Asian countries. The Korean government issued the Statement in Condemnation of coup d'état six times and enforced unprecedented sanctions such as suspension of military goods export and the army exchange and cooperation and by reexamining the Development Cooperation project. Korea also slashed the Official development assistance (ODA) for Myanmar, which is seized by the military, from 94,000,000,000 won to 13,440,000,000 won.
Cheon Ki-Hong (Prof. of Myanmar, Busan National University of Foreign Studies), who lived in Myanmar for 20 years, said, "In Korea, some Congressmen formed a gathering supporting the National Unity Government (NUG) for democracy of Myanmar and issued a statement of support. As far as I know, even though the government does not officially acknowledge the NUG, the democratic regime of Myanmar, some negotiations are happening between them."
The Korean citizens maintain solidarity with the Myanmar people, recalling the Gwangju and democratization movement in May. The 106 associations gathered and organized the Korean Civil Society Organization and made the utmost effort for Myanmar's peace restoration.
The United States is putting economic sanctions on the Myanmar military regime with the European Union. On January 31st, in collaboration with the United Kingdom and Canada, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on seven vital military officials and two institutions. This proved that they support Myanmar's peace, democracy, and freedom. The list included former Federal Attorney-General Tida Wu, who played a role in the military government's movement in prosecuting Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic leaders, Supreme Court Secretary, and Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Moreover, Myanmar's KT Services and Logistics (KTSL), which supports the Myanmar military regime financially, and the Central Procurement Committee that oversee the procurement of the military are included on the regulation list.
On January 21st, Total of France, one of the primary energy companies of Europe, Chevron Corporation of the U.S., and the Woodside of Australia, criticized the violence and human rights violations of the Myanmar military regime. They publicized their business withdrawal from Myanmar's gas and crude oil industry.
However, not every international society supports and actively defends Myanmar's normalization. Some are helpless and cold-blooded. The United Nations (UN), which has a mission of maintaining international peace and security, is surprisingly incapable of doing so. Due to the structural limitation of being unable to make a move without the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)'s permanent members' unanimity, they have not provided any practical assistance to Myanmar for the past year. Russia and China, the permanent members of the UNSC, are blocking the UN's response, advocating for Myanmars' military regime.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is also passive and incompetent. At the ASEAN Foreign Minister's meeting held from February 16th to 17th in Cambodia, the delegate of the Myanmar military regime was not invited. Cambodia, which is favorable to the military, approved Myanmar military representatives' attendance at first. However, because of the public backlash of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and other member states, Cambodia invited a non-political figure instead of a foreign minister appointed by the Myanmar military. Opposed to the decision, the Myanmar military regime did not send the attendee and the discussion for the resolution fell through.
The ASEAN Commemorative Summit last April settled on a five-point plan. However, because those were not executed, the ASEAN disapproved of the participation of the Myanmar military representative at the previous October meeting. ASEAN is just seeing how the wind blows without any arbitration and intervention for Myanmar's normalization and democracy.
Professor Cheon said, "The uselessness of international society, especially the UN, and ASEAN's mediating trials also do not have a significant step. At the beginning of the coup d'état, the Burmese hoped and expected the strong arbitration of the UN and ASEAN. However, hope changed to despair, and citizens, especially young generations, are fighting against injustice with guns."