Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised  strong objections on Saturday (November 27) to the ‘biased’ joint statement released by the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, and Great Britain.

The 7 countries released a joint statement on Friday (November 26) expressing concern over  a military offensive in Myanmar that they say is disproportionately harming civilians.

"We are concerned about allegations of weapons stockpiling and attacks by the military, including shelling and air strikes, use of heavy weapons, and the deployment of thousands of troops accompanying what security forces assert are counter-terrorism operations, which are disproportionately impacting civilians," said the seven countries.

The seven nations also called  for countries to "suspend all operational support to the military, and to cease the transfer of arms, materiel, dual-use equipment, and technical assistance to the military and its representatives."

In response to this joint statement, Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Saturday (November 26) claiming that the joint statement “contained sweeping and groundless accusations against the Tatmadaw such as human rights violations and the disproportionate use of force.”

The statement also says that the facts expressed in the joint statement are “biased” and based on “allegations emanating from groups who are committing terrorist acts or opposing the Government.”  

The failure to condemn and call for cessation of the “terrorist activities by those terrorist groups clearly demonstrates that the joint statement is one-sided and biased one,” the statement adds.