12/06/2021 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) – Last week, Reuters revealed that the United Nations Credentialing Committee was leaning towards denying both the Myanmar junta and the Taliban representation in the UN General Assembly, despite their de facto control over their national capitals. A decision to defer this decision was later confirmed by the committee’s Swedish chairperson in a statement posted to Twitter late Wednesday.
The United Nations Credential Committee is a nine-member committee tasked with the assessment of credentials for incoming or incumbent representatives. This body compiles their recommendations and submits them for approval by the 193-member General Assembly, before the new session commences. This year, these deliberations come at a time where both Myanmar and Afghanistan find themselves enduring the outcomes of forceful campaigns which ousted their sitting powers. Following these coup d’états, both entities have continued brutal crusades across their countries, persecuting those not in line with their leadership, including many Christians and other religious or ethnic minorities.
This move comes as UN leadership has continued calls for conflict-resolution in both Myanmar and Afghanistan and has made its position clear – neither have legitimate claims to authority in their countries.
Myanmar’s Tatmadaw has continued a brutal campaign following their arrest of the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi. Ms. Suu Kyi has been charged with multiple criminal acts, including corruption and election fraud, most of which is in question by the international community. This has led to the fragmentation of Myanmar which has descended into a state of civil war between the Tatmadaw and the exiled National Unity Government.
The Taliban quickly seized control of Afghanistan following the U.S. withdraw in August. The following months have seen the Taliban go unchallenged in Afghanistan. However, their reception by the international community has been widely one of rejection, given their past reputation and their continued abuses against non-Muslims and women within the country.
As this committee moves to delay further deliberations on both the Taliban and the Myanmar Junta’s status, the countries’ current representatives will remain in New York, regardless of their newly empowered opposition domestically.
International Christian Concern’s Tom Carr, voiced praise for this initial decision, “While this decision comes under the pretense of legitimate claims to authority, we are pleased to hear this outcome for the time being. In addition to these actor’s illegitimately seized authorities, both represent notorious persecutors of Christians and other religious minorities. Neither should have any further representation in our international community or have access to a platform dedicated to promoting human-rights – a subject area where both have proven themselves brazenly opposed.”
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