High-level week begins at UN General Assembly; Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun confident in retaining Myanmar seat

The 81st high-level week begins at UN General Assembly Under a global cloud of wars and bitter divisions, world leaders meet at the United Nations this week facing new fears that runaway artificial intelligence could threaten humanity even as climate shocks and escalating prices are already making life much tougher for hundreds of millions of people. The annual high-level gathering at the U.N. General Assembly will also be consumed with major wars in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Congo and Burma with a persisting question: Can the leaders do anything to end them? At 81, the future of the United Nations will also definitely be on the agenda. And what can they do about the relentless rise of global warming threatening the future of the planet, the growing inequalities within and among nations, and shocks to the global economy as blocked shipping routes and supply chains increase the cost of living and slow growth? New report finds youth concerned about insecurity in Yangon Nine out of 10 youth aged 18-25 in Yangon are concerned about leaving their homes at night due to the risk of arrest and robbery, according to the PACE-Myanmar survey “Youth Resilience and Future Hopes” published on Sunday. It surveyed 2,400 youth living in Yangon during a two-day face-to-face survey in August. “The findings highlight growing concerns over young people’s ability to live and move freely and safely in Yangon, as well as the importance of their personal security and freedom of movement,” PACE-Myanmar, a civil society group founded in 2013 to document civil rights issues in Burma, stated in its Sept. 20 survey. Forty-five per cent of youth in Yangon reported feeling “extremely concerned” about being outdoors at night, while 44 per cent were only “somewhat concerned.” Only one percent reported feeling “completely safe,” which also found that security concerns extend into their own homes anytime of day. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun confident in retaining Myanmar seat Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun told a rally outside the U.N. headquarters in New York on Saturday that conditions remain “favourable” for him to remain Burma’s permanent representative to the U.N. “Based on my experience over the past five years and the information I have gathered during this period, I can say that the situation is likely to remain unchanged,” Kyaw Moe Tun told DVB. The nine-member U.N. Credentials Committee will evaluate representation disputes following the 81st U.N. General Assembly session, which concludes on Sept. 28. The committee includes the three permanent Security Council members: U.S., China, Russia, along with newly-appointed members: Bahamas, Belgium, Benin, Jamaica, Uganda, and Vanuatu. “The Credentials Committee usually holds its regular meeting around the end of November. After that meeting, the committee’s decision is submitted to the U.N. General Assembly’s plenary session for approval,” Kyaw Moe Tun added. The support rally in the U.S. on Sept. 19 is part of an international campaign to keep Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun in Burma’s seat at the U.N. News by Region CHIN—A pastor in Tedim Township was killed during fighting between 80 regime troops, who had escaped from prison, and the People’s Defence Force-Zoland (PDF-Zoland) on Sept. 14. Tedim, located 68 miles (109 km) north of the state capital Hakha, is contested between regime and resistance forces. The Zomi Youth Association (ZYA) announced that a funeral was held for a pastor named Reverend Dal Thawn Tuang on Sept. 16. Tedim is home to the Zomi ethnic nationality, which is a collective identity given to the Kuki-Chin people living in communities across northern Chin along the Burma-India border. MON—Thirty-eight homes and two schools were destroyed by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force in Bilin Township’s Kya Thaung Seik village on Saturday. Bilin Township, 69 miles (111 km) north of state capital Mawlamyine, is located in Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 1 territory. “There were no casualties as people had already fled the village due to fighting,” a Bilin resident told DVB, referring to the ongoing battle between regime forces and one of the KNU armed wings, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). Residents added that the airstrikes were followed by artillery.