Crisis in Myanmar

Sir, – Like most members of the Irish public, I am deeply disturbed by events in Myanmar. The youngest and bravest are being murdered by a self-appointed, unelected government.

Ireland lobbied hard to get a seat on the UN Security Council. Now is the hour for us to prove that we are worthy of a place on it, and for us to show that, given our history, we have fellow-feeling at this time for the ordinary citizens of Myanmar, and are prepared to do something about it. It is time for Ireland to stand up and be counted at the UN. It is time for us to propose intervention by a UN force to prevent the shedding of more innocent blood in Myanmar. If not, how long does the UN need to wait? Much more than a UN resolution is needed.

The people of Myanmar are waiting for the international community to help them. We are that community. – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL

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N BRENNAN,

Waterford.

Sir, – Half of the countries that sent representatives to attend the Myanmar military’s Armed Forces Day celebrations on Saturday (Russia, China, India and Vietnam) are currently on the UN Security Council. On the same day, over 100 civilians, including a number of children, were murdered by Myanmar’s security forces – bringing the total death toll since the coup to over 400.

I think it’s fair at this point to say that the United Nations Security Council has failed in its responsibilities and that the situation in Myanmar constitutes a threat to international peace and security.

It’s time to pursue the Uniting for Peace Resolution and call an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly.

The question is, which member states will have the will and the backbone to take this forward?

Will Ireland? – Yours, etc,

SHANE BRADY,

Sydney,

Australia.