Over nearly four years of Myanmar’s Spring Revolution, the international response has seen only a small number of effective actions against the junta. However, the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), the United States (US), and the international community continue to issue various statements regarding the situation in Myanmar.
Despite repeated calls from the international community, including the US, there has been no sufficient level of international action in response to the military council’s acts of violence.
On 6 January, a joint statement was released by the US Embassy in Myanmar, along with the High Representative on behalf of the European Union and the Governments of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, and the United Kingdom to address the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. The statement highlighted that the military council was committing significant injustices against the civilians. However, it did not specify any concrete actions that could be taken in response to these violations.
The statement noted that the military council’s actions included indiscriminate aerial bombardments, sexual and gender-based violence, the burning of homes, attacks on humanitarian workers and facilities, and restrictions on humanitarian access by both the military regime and various armed groups. The statement said that they have received many credible reports about these actions. 1
A recent statement from the UN disclosed that the forces of the military council targeted civilians with bombings. Although the UN has issued numerous statements in the past, it has not explicitly identified the military council as responsible for these actions in its descriptions of the events.
On 8 January, the junta carried out a bombing of Kyauk Ni Maw village in Ramree Township, Arakan State, resulting in the deaths of more than 40 local residents. In response to the incident, the UN statement urged all parties involved in Myanmar to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. 2
On 4 January, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken issued a statement that specifically labelled the military council as responsible for ongoing violence. The US further urged the military regime to cease its violence, release all those individuals unjustly and arbitrarily detained, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and support Myanmar’s return to a path of inclusive democracy.
Throughout the Spring Revolution, the US was the first to recognize the rights that the people of Myanmar sought to shape for their future. The US Secretary of State emphasized that the US stood with the Myanmar people in their efforts to achieve democracy, peace and stability, economic development, and the protection of human rights. 3
1 Nine countries, EU, and US call for inclusive meeting on Myanmar issues, Mizzima, 8 January 2025.
2 At least 40 killed in Myanmar military air attack in Rakhine State, UN says, Aljazeera, 11 January 2025.
3 US calls on military council to take four key actions, including ending violence and releasing those arbitrarily detained, Karen Information Center, 4 January 2025.