Dear President and Members of the Security Council,
We, the undersigned protesters around Myanmar and CSOs call on the UN Security Council to immediately dispatch an intervention mission to Myanmar to stop violence from being inflicted against peaceful protesters, prevent further bloodshed and loss of life and release all those arbitrarily detained.
Since the 1 February, seven people have been killed and several others have been injured in relation to the illegitimate military coup in Myanmar. As requested in an open letter from the 177 CSOs to the Security Council on 12 February 2021, it is important that the UN Security Council respond immediately to the current political and human security crisis in Myanmar. Since this letter was last sent, we have witnessed the following escalating use of violence and intimidation by the military regime.
On 20 February, two people were killed, and dozens were injured when police, with support from soldiers, fired live ammunition into the dockworkers protestng at the Yadanarbon shipyard in Mandalay. At least one sniper from Light Infantry Division 33 – a shock unit deployed in ethnic regions that has historically inflicted brutal violence – was photographed on the streets at the place and time of the incident. Photos and videos of innocent bleeding protesters, dying in the streets, are placing an emotional strain on the people.
On February 9, Ma Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing, a 19-year old female student was shot in the head by police in Naypyidaw, later dying in hospital as a result of this incident on 19 February 2021.
The use of excessive forces, including rubber bullets, water cannons, and beatings by the police is now a common occurrence. On 14 and 19 February, in Myitkyina, Kachin State, the police beat, arrested and fired on crowds, causing panic among the people. Rubber bullets were also fired into the crowd in Yangon, as well as Mawlamyine, Mon State and in Myawaddy, Karen State.
Journalists and media reporting on the peaceful protests are facing intimidation and threats such as being followed, beaten and arrested.
Since the early hours of 14 February, the Internet has been cut off every night between 1am and 9am, and a social media ban persists. In addition, the military has added other draconian restrictions by enacting and amending series of laws related to cyber security.
There have been increased presence of army tanks and soldiers in the streets of major cities, including Yangon.
Protesters, especially civil servants and public-sector workers who join the CDM movement, continue to be arrested at night. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a total of 684 people have been arrested charged or sentenced in relation to the military coup as of 22 February.
On 12 February, authorities released more than 23,000 prisoners, who were escorted by security forces into city streets and neighborhoods, setting fire to houses, creating disturbances and inciting violence. Some still had their prison release papers when they were arrested while committing acts or attempting to commit violence.
The lack of human security situation is extremely worrying. More people are dying; our rights are becoming more restricted and we live in constant fear. We are being treated like enemies in combat.
Yet, we are also determined to continue opposing this illegitimate military coup. We will continue to go out on the streets and peacefully oppose the violence that is being inflicted upon us. However, we need urgent support from the Security Council. The current situation in our country is a major emergency. Therefore, it is with great urgency, that we reiterate our call from the letter dated 12 February for the UN Security Council to:
Immediately dispatch an enhanced monitoring and intervention mission to Myanmar to stop the violence being inflicted against peaceful protesters, prevent further bloodshed and loss of life and release all those arbitrarily detained.
In addition, it is imperative that the member states urgently impose a coordinated, global arms embargo on Myanmar. Our lives may depend on your concerted action.
Please accept the assurance of our highest consideration.
Signed by: (list updated on 25 February)
A Lin Pya Kyal
A Lin Tan
A Lin Thi Tan
A Nar Gatt Thit Group
Access Myanmar StudentsNetwork
Action Committee for Democracy Development
Action Group for Farmers Affair (စစ်ကိုင်းတိုင်း)
Action Group for Farmers Affair (ပဲခူးတိုင်း)
Action Group for Farmers Affair (မကွေးတိုင်း)
Action Group for Farmers Affair (မန္တလေးတိုင်း)
Action Group for Farmers Affair (ဧရာဝတီတိုင်း)
Ahlin Tagar Rural Development Organization
Alinsaetamarn Library & Resource Center
Alinthitsar Environmental and Development Group
Alinyaungpandaing Environmental and Development Group
All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress
Andin Mon Youth group
Anin Region enviromental conservation group
Ann Township Pipeline Monitoring Group
Area Peace and Development Forward
Arr Marn Thit Social Development Organization
Arr Thit Yaung Chi
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners
Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organization (Minhla)
Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organization (Ngaphae)
AYY Famar Union
Ayyar Pyo May Women Development Organization
Ba Ann Media Group
Backpack Health Workers Team
Banmaw Youth Network
Basic Lawyer Network
Bawdi Youth (Ethnic Youth group)
BEE House
Bu Thee Taung Youth Network
Burma Human Rights Network
Burma Medical Association
Burma Monitor (Research and Monitoring)
Candle Light Group
CBT Gaw Ran Gyi Island (Nan Thar Pu)
Center for Social Integrity
Child Prevention Network
Child Protection Group
Chin Agency
Chin Community Base Rehabilitation
Chin Institute of Social Science
Chin MATA Working Group
Chin Resources Center
Chin Women Development Organization
Chin Youth Organization (Kanpalet)
Chindwin Region Natural Resources Watch Group
Chinland Natural Resources Watch Group
Cho Chin Women Organization
Citizen Action for Transparency
Civic Engagement Development Network
Civic Engagement Network for M2
Civil Call
Community Association Development
Community Development Youth Network
Community Observer Association
Community Peace Support Group
Community Response Group – ComReG
Da Nu Youth group
Daily Educations
Dawei Development Association
Dawei Watch Foundation
Dawei Women Union
Democracy, Peace and Women Organization
Diversity and Public Truth
Doe Myae Civil Social Development Organization
Empower Youth Enlightenment
Enlightened Myanmar Research Foundation – EMReF
Environmental Conservation Association
Equality Myanmar
Farmer Agricultural Network
Farmer and Land Activity Group
Farmer and Land Worker Union (Myeik Region)
Farmer Union (Bago)
Farmers and Agricultural workers group
Farmers And Land Rights Action Group
Farmers Development and Environmental Watch Group
Farmers Network ဝမ်းတွင်း
Farmers Union (Ayar)
Forest User Association
Free & Fair (youth) Network
Free and Justice
Free Education Service Organization
Freedom and Labor Action Group
Freedom Society
Future Light Center
Future Light for Child
Future Light Social Development Organization
Future Star Youth Organization
Future Star မတ်တရာ
Generation Wave
Generation Wontho
Genuine People’s Servants
Global Family
GOAL Organization
Golden Future Social Development Organization
Golden Heart Organization
Good Hope Foundation (Bhamo)
Green (Chin)
Green Development Network
Green for All (NTI)
Green Justice Institute
Green Network (Mergui Archipelago)
Green Network (Tanintharyi Region)
Green Right Organization
Halcyon
Heartland Foundation
HeinNae Region Longterm Development Group
HinTha Da PIDP Group
Hinthar Tagon
Hkumzup Development Committee
Hna Lone Hla (AL)
Homalinn Youth Network
Hope For Children Development Organization
Hsar Ka Paw Group
Hsar Mu Htaw Group (ဆာမူထော် အဖွဲ့)
Hsar Mu Waw Group (ဆာမူဝေါ် အဖွဲ့)
Htaw Me Par Group (ထော်မဲပါ အဖွဲ့)
Htee Gyaing Network
Htoi Gender and Development Foundation
Htum Thit Sa Rural Development Organization
Htuu Region Development Group
Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
Human Rights Foundation of Monland
Humanity Institute
Justice For All (လူ့အခွင့်အရေး ကာကွယ်စောင့်ရှောက်ခြင်းနှင့် တရားမျှတမှုလက်လှမ်းမှီရေးအဖွဲ့)
Justice Movement for Community Inlay
Ka Nyut Kwin Youth Center
Kachin State Women Network
Kachin Women’s Association Thailand
Kachin Women’s Union
Kan Chay Arr Man Fishery Development Organization
Kan Latt Myar
Kanaung Institute
Kani Natural Resources Watch
Kanpetlet Land Development Organization
Karen Affairs Committee
Karen Environmental and Social Action Network
Karen Grassroots Women Network
Karen Human Rights Group
Karen Organization for Relief and Development
Karen Peace Support Network
Karen Refugee Committee
Karen Rivers Watch
Karen Student Network Group
Karen Teacher Working Group
Karen Women’s Organization
Karen Youth Organization
Karenni Ever Green
Karenni Legal and Human Rights Center
Karenni MATA
Karenni National Women’s Organization
Karenni National Youth Organization
Karenni State Farmer Union
KatanKyun Development Group
Kaung Myat Hnalonethar Health Care Organization
Kayan Earth Right Action Network
Kayan New Generation Youth
Kayan Women Organization
Kayin Culture and literature committee
K’Cho Land Development Association
KECO
Keng Tung Youth
Khaingmyaethitsar Environmental Maintain Group
Khanti Youths
Khitlight Development Group
Kin Oo Natural Resources Watchs
Kin Ywar (Ma da yar Youth)
Kindness Foundation (Shan)
KOG
Kyaik Hti Yo Mountain Range Lover Association
Kyaingtone Youth
Kyaukse Youth Network
Kyike Mayaw MATA
Kyonemaku Chaung Network
Lamyan Farmers Network
Lan Pya Kyal Sin Group
Land Activist Group
Land and Environmental
Lat Pa Daung Monitoring Group
LatButta Farmer Union
Lawyers Network (Ayeyarwaddy)
Legal Knowledge Sharing Group
Let’s Help Each Other
Life Light
Light Civil Society Organization
Light Social Development Organization
Lin lake Kyal Social Development Organization
Local Development Network (Kayah)
Loka Ahlinn (Social Development Organization)
Lu Mu Htar Group
Ma Day Island Youth Development Association
Ma Naw Phyu
Magway Region Youth Network
Mandalay Affairs Team
Mandalay Regional Youth Association
Mandalay Regional Youth Network
Mandalay Women Political Federation (MWPF)
Mann Thingaha (Gender GBV Team)
Manoeyone Future Light Enviromental and Development Group
Maramagri Youth Network
Marga
MATA Sagaing Region
Matu Women Organization
Meiktila Youth Network
Metta Development Foundation
Mhine Nyein Network
Mi Karen Youth
Mitta Blood Health Group
Mitta San Yae (Magway)
Mitta San Yae (Shan)
Mitta Shin Group
Mitta Yake Group
Mitta Yaung Sin group
Mohn Chaung Lover
Mon green develop group
Mon State Community Association
Mon State CSO Network
Mon-region Social Development Network
Mother Land Network
MRDJO Magway Regional Rules of law and Justice group
Mu Se Multi Development Association
Mudidar ZiwadarNa and Social Association
Muditar Organization
Mudon CSO Network
Mudon Township Development Group
Mung Chying Rawt Jat
Municipal Monitoring Group
Muu basin Environmental Save Group
Mwetaung Area Development Group
Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability
Myanmar Cultural Research Society
Myanmar Deaf Society
Myanmar Muslim Youth Association (Kachin State)
Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
Myat Darna Group
Myeik Lawyer Network
Na Phat Hla
Nant San Environmental Save Group
Natural Green Alliance
Northern Spectrum Youth Association
Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
Olive Organization
Open data Myanmar
Open Development Foundation
Our Home
Pan Daing Shin
Pan Thi Kyo LGBT Organization
Parchan River Maintain Group
Pauk Khaung Youth Network
Pauktaingchaung Development Group
Paung Ku
Paungsee Myittar Organization
Peace Development Committee (မိတ္ထီလာ)
Peace, Development & Civic Engagement
People Oriented and Development Group
People Resource Alliance
Phyu Sin Mitta
Phyu Sin Myittar Social Development Organization
Pluralistic Society
Pone Yate Sit Regional Development Organization
Progressive Voice
Public Service Committee (Taunggoke)
Pwint Lin Voluntary Group
Pwint Lin Youth
Pwint Phyu Development Group
Pyar Mountain Conservation Group
Pyi Thue A Kyoe Pyue Group
Pyin Nyar Youth Association
Rakha Arr Marn Group
Rakhine Disable Association
Rakhine National Network (Lay Taung)
Rakhine Social Network (Myay Pone)
Rakhine Women’s Union
Rakhine Youth Generation
RanByae Township Development Group
Resources Center
Responsible Waste Collecting Group
Retired voluntary Group
Rivers and Creeks Monitoring Group
Rule of Law Watch Group
Rural Social Development Organization
Sagaing Region Youth Network
Sal and KyaySin Mining Watch Group
Sarnar Kyi Phyu Social Development Organization
SarPhyu Farmer Network
Say Da Nar Mon Voluntary Group
Say Da Nar Shin
Saytana Shaesaung Youth Organization
Second Tap Root
Sein Lan (Mogoke)
Sein Lan (Tha Pake Kyin)
Sein Lan Lwin Pyin Group (Laputta)
Sein Lan Myay (Kyun Hla)
Sein Yaung So (Katha)
Shan Literature
Shan MATA
Shan State Peace Task Force
Shan Women Development Network
Shantinmae Environmental Maintain Committee
Shwe Kyin Lover
Shwe Minn Tha Foundation (Myanmar)
Shwe Nathar Farmer Development Organization
Shwe Network
Shwe Paing Nyin Group
Shwechinthae Farmers Network
Sit Man Thaw Sanda Social group
SKY-Youth, Kyaukphyu
Social Development and Peace Network
Southern Youth Development Organization
SPACE
Spectrum Organization
Swam Su Ti Rural Development Organization
Synergy – Social Harmony Organization
Ta’ang Women’s Organization
Tarkapaw Youth Group
Tedim Youth Fellowship
Tgyit Watch Group
Than Dwe Development Association
Than Lwin Thar Chin Group
Thanlwin Network
Thazi Youth Network
The Seagull:Human Rights, Peace & Development
The Wings Institution
Theindaw Region Environmental Maintain Group
Thingantaung Waterfall Maintain Group
Thit Sar Yae Sin
Thurira Sanda Group
Thwee Community Development Network
Tonzang Fellowship
Tonzang Youth Association
Transparency and Accountability Network Kachin State
Tree Lover group
TRI STAR
TRY Organization
Union of Karenni State Youth
Unity Erch Bridge Organization
University Muslim Students Network – Myanmar
Upper Chindwin Youth Network
Upper Myanmar Watch Group
Waingmaw CSO Network
Waingmaw Women CBO
Western beach Ayeyarwaddy Environmental Conservation Group