(Based on the Staff post from the ABC NEWS on April 6, 2024.)
The post has been vacant for 10 months as the
country's conflict escalated into the worst violence since the military
takeover in 2021. Ms Bishop will replace Noeleen Heyzer, a former UN
undersecretary-general for Singapore who left after 20 months at the end of her
contract in June 2023.
In a grim assessment to the UN General Assembly before leaving, Ms Heyzer said the impact of the military takeover has been "devastating", with violence continuing "at an alarming scale". In announcing Ms Bishop's appointment, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said she "brings extensive political, legal, management and senior leadership experience to the role".
Ms Bishop served
as Australia's foreign minister from 2013-2018 and previously held other
cabinet positions. She was a member of the Australian Parliament from 1998 to
2019 and is currently chancellor of the Australian National University.
The nationwide
armed conflict in Myanmar began after the army ousted the elected government of
Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and suppressed widespread nonviolent protests
that sought a return to democratic rule.
Thousands of
young people fled to jungles and mountains in remote border areas as a result
of the military's suppression and made common cause with ethnic guerilla forces
battle-hardened by decades of combat with the army in pursuit of autonomy.
Thousands of
Myanmar youngsters look to flee to Thailand. After last week's announcement of
compulsory military service for Myanmar men and women over the age of 18, the Thai embassy in Yangon was flooded with
requests for tourist visas.
Despite its
great advantage in armaments and manpower, the military has been unable to
quell the resistance movement. Over the past five months, the army has been routed
in northern Shan state, is conceding swaths of territory in Rakhine state in
the west, and is under growing attack elsewhere.
Myanmar's main
pro-democracy resistance group said on Thursday its armed wing launched drone
attacks on the airport and a military headquarters in the capital, Naypyitaw,
but the ruling military said it destroyed the drones as they attacked.
Most details of
the incident couldn't be independently verified, but the military's
acknowledgement that it had taken place in one of the country's most heavily
guarded locations will be seen by many as the latest indication that it is
losing the initiative.
Assistant
secretary-general for political affairs Khaled Khiari told the UN Security
Council on Thursday that the intensifying conflict was having a devastating
impact on human rights, fundamental freedoms and basic needs of millions of
people — as well as "alarming spillover effects" in the region. "The
civilian toll keeps rising" amid reports of indiscriminate bombing by
Myanmar's armed forces and artillery shelling by various parties, Mr Khiari
said.
