An envoy for Myanmar’s recently overthrown government on Friday pushed the UN to impose sanctions as well as a no-fly zone and even plan military efforts to restore the country’s democratically elected leadership.
Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar’s ambassador to the UN, who has kept his role despite a military coup in February, made an impassioned plea for help amid the army’s deadly crackdown on a wave of pro-democracy protests.
"Your collective, strong action is needed immediately," Mr Kyaw Moe Tun said.
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“The international community and the UN Security Council have the responsibility to use all necessary means to help protect the people of Myanmar from atrocities, brutal and inhumane acts committed by the military.”
By using such phrases as “all necessary means” and the “responsibility to protect”, the envoy invoked boilerplate UN terms for approving international military operations against rogue actors.
He also called for a no-fly zone to ground Myanmar’s warplanes, which have been deployed since the coup against ethnic militias, and for a global arms embargo and the freezing of bank accounts linked to members of the military and their families.
“Time is of the essence for us,” he added. “Please, please take action."
Mr Kyaw Moe Tun spoke at the first public discussion on Myanmar by the UN Security Council’s 15 members since the putsch in February.
A member of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), a group of politicians that seeks to restore the civilian government, also addressed the virtual gathering.
The Security Council has condemned the violence against protesters but has not called the military takeover a coup or threatened reprisals due to opposition from China, Russia and other members.
The US has imposed its own sanctions on the junta's economic interests and on Thursday added a state-owned gem firm to its list of targets.
UN spokesman Farhan Haq said world powers needed to work harder to restore democratic rule in the country.
"We've been warning for some time that there has been a significant rise in violence and the situation cannot go on like this," Mr Haq said in answer to a question from The National.
“We'll see how the members take up their responsibility. But, certainly, the doctrine of the responsibility to protect is one that has now been well established.”
The UN's envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, arrived on Friday in the Thai capital of Bangkok in the hope of talks with Myanmar’s ruling junta, but said she was told by the generals they were not ready to receive her.
“I regret that [Myanmar's military] Tatmadaw answered me yesterday that they are not ready to receive me. I am ready for dialogue. Violence never leads to peaceful sustainable solutions,” Ms Schraner Burgener said on Twitter.
More than 600 civilians have been killed in Myanmar since the junta seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group.
Ms Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and Myanmar’s champion of democracy for decades, has been held at an undisclosed location since the coup and charged with crimes that could see her jailed and banned from politics.
Her National League for Democracy won an election in November but the army – which had ruled Myanmar for much of its post-independence history – claimed the vote had been marred by fraud.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
