1 February 2021

Dear Members of the Press,

ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights and Progressive Voice, with the support of Forum Asia, ALTSEAN-BURMA and Initiative for International Dialogue, will host a joint online press conference at 10.30am Bangkok time on Tuesday 2 February 2021 to express grave concern, and analyse the implications of the military coup in Myanmar on human rights and democracy.

On 1 February, Myanmar’s military announced a State of Emergency for one year, with all legislative, executive and judicial powers transferred to Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Earlier in the day, senior members from the ruling National League for Democracy, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, were arrested, while pro-democracy activists have also been arbitrarily arrested. In addition, there have been reports of the internet being disrupted and the presence of soldiers on the streets.

The developments come after a general election in November, which the NLD won resoundingly, but the army said was fraudulent. Myanmar’s new parliament was due to convene for the first time on Monday.

The press conference will be hosted on Zoom (please see information below) and the panel will include Charles Santiago, APHR chair and Malaysian Member of Parliament, Khin Ohmar, Chairperson of the Advisory Board of Progressive Voice, and Wai Wai Nu, Founder and Director of the Women’s Peace Network and a Rohingya activist. It will be followed by a Question and Answer session.

Date: 2 February 2021, Tuesday

Time: 10:30am (Bangkok time GMT+7)

RSVP: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_N-YaFd3PSMGbqoVVdxLBjg

For more information, please contact [email protected]