More than 800 civil society organizations (NGOs) have signed a letter calling on the UN envoy in Myanmar to resign.

The Myanmar NGOs, in particular, believe that her visit to the country last week has only contributed to the status of the military junta.

United Nations Myanmar envoy Noeleen Heyzer visited the country for the first time since the junta took power in 2021. She met with leaders of the regime but was not allowed to speak with the previous head of government Aung San Suu Kyi.

She has been in jail since the takeover and was convicted of incitement and violating corona measures. Just two days before Heyzer’s visit, Suu Kyi was sentenced to another six years in prison for corruption.

Civil society organizations believe that Myanmar’s overall United Nations policy has failed. Dialogue with “an illegal regime” would have the opposite effect and would only worsen the human rights situation. Therefore, the NGOs conclude that the UN should end the special envoy’s mandate.