Why act?

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The “Threat to the Peace” report identifies five determining factors, of which the presence of one or more has triggered the UNSC to pass a resolution. These five factors are each present in Burma.

• The democratically elected government of Burma was overthrown in 1962 by military coup

• At the first multiparty election in 1990, the NLD won over 80% of seats in parliament

• The military junta refused to honor the results or engage in meaningful dialogue with democratically elected members of parliament

• Serious protracted fighting continues between SPDC and various ethnic groups, even in ceasefire areas

• The SPDC Army has destroyed over 2,700 villages since 1996, suppressing ethnic populations

• Soldiers have used rape systematically and openly

• An estimated 70,000 children recruited as soldiers

• Extrajudicial killings, torture, disappearances, arbitrary detention

• Widespread and systematic use of forced labor

• Outflow of almost 700,000 refugees in recent years

• Number two world exporter of heroin/opiates and major supplier of methamphetamines to international markets

• Unchecked HIV/AIDS is spreading to neighboring countries from Burma, as the virus and the inability of patients to access appropriate care is leading to increased drug resistance and virus mutation into new strains