STATEMENT BY THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR AT THE BRIEFING BY THE UNSG SPECIAL ENVOY ON MYANMAR TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 16 MARCH 2023

Madam President,

1 I thank the UN Secretary-General (UNSG)’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Dr Noeleen Heyzer for her comprehensive briefing, which paints a grim picture of the situation on the ground in Myanmar. 

2 Singapore is deeply disappointed by the lack of progress in the implementation of ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus since its adoption on 24 April 2021. We reiterate our calls for the cessation of all violence against civilians; for the Myanmar military authorities to swiftly and fully implement the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus; for inclusive political dialogue among all stakeholders; and for the release of all political detainees, including foreigners. 

3 Singapore reaffirms the crucial role of the UN and the UNSG’s Special Envoy in addressing the situation in Myanmar. We fully support the UNSG Special Envoy’s efforts to foster dialogue and reconciliation, promote humanitarian assistance, and address the plight of displaced persons from the Rakhine State. We welcome the visit of the UNSG’s Special Envoy to Myanmar in August 2022.

4 We also welcome the UN Security Council (UNSC)’s adoption of Resolution 2669 (2022) on the situation in Myanmar in December 2022, which calls for an immediate end to violence, and constructive dialogue and reconciliation. The resolution also underscores the UNSC’s support for the implementation of ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus and ASEAN’s central role in helping to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. We urge continued coordination between the Special Envoys of ASEAN and the UNSG, and reiterate that the Special Envoys must be granted access to all parties in Myanmar.  We note and welcome the recent meeting of the UNSC which heard the briefings by the UNSG’s Special Envoy as well as the ASEAN Chair.    

5 Even as the Special Envoys continue their work, we must also continue to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar and press on with efforts to facilitate the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of refugees to Rakhine State. Singapore has supported ASEAN’s efforts to facilitate the return of refugees and contributed over S$1 million in bilateral aid specifically to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of displaced persons from Rakhine State. We will also continue to support the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all in need in Myanmar.

6 Singapore is committed to working with Indonesia as the ASEAN Chair, fellow ASEAN Member States, and partners including the UN, to encourage dialogue, reconciliation, and honest discussion in order to achieve an outcome that reflects the interests and will of the people of Myanmar. 

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