UN names Singapore’s Noeleen Heyzer as new Myanmar envoy

The sociologist, who has held multiple senior positions at the United Nations, will replace Christine Schraner Burgener of Switzerland

Heyzer has worked closely with Asean, as well as with Myanmar authorities on the development and reduction of poverty

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Singaporean sociologist Noeleen Heyzer, seen here at a 2018 forum in Kuala Lumpur, has been appointed as the new UN special envoy to Myanmar. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 7:09am, 26 Oct 2021Updated: 8:55am, 26 Oct 2021

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Monday that he had named Singaporean sociologist Noeleen Heyzer as the new special envoy to Myanmar. She will replace Christine Schraner Burgener of Switzerland.

Heyzer, 73, has held multiple senior positions at the United Nations, in particular between 2007 and 2014 as the head of an economic and social commission for Asia and the Pacific. Between 2013 and 2015, she served as special adviser for East Timor.

As part of her duties on the Economic and Social Commission, Heyzer worked closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), as well as with Myanmar authorities on the development and reduction of poverty.

Outgoing UN special envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener pictured in May. Photo: AP

Since the February 1 coup in Myanmar that put an end to a 10-year democratic period, the United Nations and Asean have unsuccessfully urged the military junta to relaunch a political dialogue and liberate civilian officials arrested during the putsch.

Neither Schraner Burgener, who is leaving her UN duties after 3½ years to enter the Swiss government, nor Brunei’s deputy foreign minister Erywan Yusof – appointed Asean emissary in August – has been able to go to Myanmar, where they hoped to meet civilians such as former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.