46th session of the Human Rights Council. Statement delivered by Ambassador Anna Jardfelt.
Madam President,
Sweden fully aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union and thanks Special Rapporteur Andrews for his update to the council.
Sweden strongly condemns the military coup in Myanmar. The European Union stands ready to adopt restrictive measures targeting those directly responsible. The elected civilian government and democratic institutions must be restored and the will of the people of Myanmar respected.
The military must immediately stop all excessive use of force against peaceful protestors resulting in injuries, arbitrary arrests, enforced dissapperances and killings.
Hundreds of protestors, journalists and elected officials have reportedly been arbitrarily detained with scarce or no information about their detention is available. All those arbitrarily detained must be immediately released and no one should be subjected to harm while in custody.
Sweden takes serious note of the message of the Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar on 3 of March regarding the magnitude of the ongoing human rights violations. Impunity for human rights violations cannot be accepted and accountability must be sought.
Mr Special Rapporteur, given the current situation in Myanmar, what would be your key recommendation to the international community to ensure future accountability for past and current human rights violations?
Thank you.