Department of Defense
1400 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1400
United States

To: H.E. Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense, United States

Re: Participation in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter Terrorism       

14 July 2022

Your Excellency,

We, the undersigned 448 organizations from throughout Myanmar and the world, appeal to you, as the representative of the United States Government and minister responsible for the country’s defense engagement with ASEAN, to boycott the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Experts’ Working Group (ADMM-Plus EWG) on Counter Terrorism co-chaired by the Myanmar and Russian militaries. We welcome the decisions of Australia and New Zealand to not participate in the upcoming meeting scheduled for 20 – 21 July in Moscow, Russia. We welcome your government’s robust commitment to imposing targeted sanctions on the Myanmar military, and on the military’s businesses and businesses linked to the junta. We call on you and the United States to continue to take leadership in responding to the crisis in Myanmar and Ukraine by boycotting the ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism.

The Myanmar military has long committed international crimes under the pretext of “counter terrorism”. The most egregious case was the Myanmar military’s 2017 genocide against the Rohingya, which, according to the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, involved the launch of “clearance operations” that were supposedly aimed at the “elimination” of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. In reality, it involved the murder, massacre, torture, rape and gang rape of Rohingya, forcing over 700,000 to flee to Bangladesh under the guise of counter terrorism.

The military’s abuse of anti-terrorism law and practices continued after its illegal coup attempt. One strategy of the junta has been to attack democratic institutions and justify ongoing atrocities by designating the National Unity Government (NUG), Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and Peoples Defence Forces (PDFs) as “terrorists”. In 2021, the Myanmar military used its co-chair position of the ADMM Experts’ Working Group to legitimize its illegal junta and to seek support for its terrorism designations against the NUG, CRPH and PDFs. Its leadership of the group was also used as fodder for domestic propaganda, with photos and details of the meetings featured prominently in military-controlled media targeting a domestic audience.

Meanwhile in June 2022, the military junta announced a planned execution of four men, including two respected democracy activists, for ungrounded allegations of terrorism — rejecting a plea made by ASEAN Chair Prime Minister Hun Sen. Such actions demonstrate the junta’s total disrespect of and unwillingness to implement ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus, which demands an immediate cessation of violence and a dialogue among all parties concerned. The junta’s ongoing operations against civilians — including torture, indiscriminate attacks, airstrikes and artillery shelling, burning of villages and looting — are increasingly deploying new tactics of terror to commit widespread and systematic crimes throughout the country. This is exemplified  by the junta soldiers beheading and desecrating unarmed civilians in Sagaing Region. These acts clearly constitute terror under international and national law. A body responsible for such terror and gross atrocities is devoid of legitimacy and is in no position to lead, nor participate, in the ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism.

The Working Group’s other co-chair, Russia, is similarly in no position to lead or participate in ASEAN counter terrorism cooperation. Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine must be condemned as an attack on democratic values and violation of international law and norms. Since its invasion, Ukraine has documented 15,000 suspected war crimes as of 31 May, and the situation in Ukraine has been referred to the International Criminal Court by 43 State Parties, including the United States. The Ukrainian government has estimated that “at least tens of thousands” of Ukrainian civilians were killed in the first 100 days of Russia’s invasion. Since 24 February, at least one-third of Ukrainians have been forcibly displaced. Your government’s leadership in responding to Russia’s atrocities in Ukraine — through targeted sanctions of government officials and private entities, severe financial restrictions, ban on gold import, export controls, freezing of assets, as well as actions through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) — must be matched with your level of response to the Myanmar military and its affiliated entities.

Engagement with ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism only emboldens the Myanmar junta and Russia to continue committing international crimes. ASEAN Defence Ministers and ASEAN-Plus Defence Ministers must take the principled step and refuse to attend the upcoming ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism. To allow the Myanmar junta and Russia to engage in the ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism is antithetical to the aims of the meeting and will severely damage the reputation of the ADMM-Plus EWG and ASEAN. We call on you to boycott the upcoming ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism and take further actions to exclude the Myanmar junta and Russia from other ADMM meetings in solidarity with the peoples of Myanmar and Ukraine.

For more information, please contact:

• Khin Ohmar, Progressive Voice, [email protected]
• Salai Za Uk Ling, Chin Human Rights Organization, [email protected]
• Sandra Kong, Global Movement for Myanmar Democracy, [email protected]

Sincerely,

List of signatories below include the following 415 Myanmar, regional and international civil society organizations, Spring Revolution Strike Committees and unions from Myanmar. 33 organizations from Myanmar have chosen not to disclose their names. A total of 448 organizations are signatories to the open letter.

1. 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
2. Action Committee for Democracy Development
3. Action Committee of Basic Education Students (ACBES)
4. Active Youth (Kalay)
5. Activists Group for Human Rights ‘BARAM’
6. Ah Nah Podcast- conversation with Myanmar
7. All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress
8. All Aung Myay Thar San Education Strike
9. All Burma Democratic Face in New Zealand
10. All Burma Federation of Student Unions (Monywa District)
11. All Sagaing Township Basic Education Students’ Union
12. All Schools of Aungmyaythazan Township Strike
13. Alliance of Students’ Union – Yangon (ASU-Yangon)
14. Alliance Organization Myanmar Bankers Union
15. ALTSEAN-Burma
16. Anti Dictatorship in Burma – DC Metropolitan Area (ADB-DCMA)
17. Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon-AJAY
18. Anti-Junta Forces Coordination Committee (AFCC)
19. Arakan CSO Network
20. Arakan Humanitarian Coordination Team- AHCT
21. Asia Democracy Network (ADN)
22. Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
23. Asian Dignity Initiative
24. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
25. Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
26. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
27. Association of United Nationality in Japan (AUN)
28. Association Suisse-Birmanie (Swiss Burma Association)
29. Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
30. Auckland Kachin Community NZ
31. Auckland Zomi Community
32. Aung Myay Tharzan Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
33. Aung Pin Lal Main Strike
34. Ayeyarwaddy Youths’ Union
35. Bago Basic Education Students’ Union
36. Bank Trade Unions Federation of Myanmar – BTUFM
37. Basic Education General Strike Committee (BEGSC)
38. Basic Education Worker Unions – Steering Committee (BEWU-SC)
39. BEHS-1, Hpa-An Basic Education Students’ Union
40. BEHS-1, Mandalay Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
41. BEHS-11, Aungmyethazan Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
42. BEHS-24, Mahaaungmyay Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
43. BEHS-4, Mandalay Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
44. BEHS-8, Aungmyethazan Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
45. Blood Money Campaign
46. Burma Action Ireland
47. Burma Campaign UK
48. Burma Refugee Saving Association (B.R.S.A)
49. Burman suomalaiset Finland
50. Burmese Canadian Network
51. Burmese Community Group (Manawatu, NZ)
52. Burmese Community in France
53. Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
54. Cambodian Americans and Friends for Democracy and Human Rights Advocate
55. CDM Medical Network (CDMMN)
56. CDM Support Team Mandalay
57. Chanayetharsan Basic Education Students’ Union
58. Changjak21
59. Chanmyatharzi Township People’s Strike
60. Chin Community of Auckland
61. Chin Community of Japan (CCJ)
62. Chin Human Rights Organization
63. Chin Youth Organization (Matupi)
64. Chin Youth Organization of Japan (CYO-JP)
65. Chindwin (West) Villages Women Strike
66. Citizen of Burma Award – New Zealand
67. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
68. Civil Information Network (CIN)
69. Civil Society Organizations Coordination Committee (Monywa)
70. Coalition of Mandalay Engineers
71. Coalition Strike Committee – Dawei
72. Colorfulspring (ရောင်စုံနွေဦး)
73. Community Resource Center, Thailand
74. Co-operative University Mandalay Students’ Strike
75. CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
76. CRPH Funding Ireland
77. CRPH Support Group, Norway
78. CRPH, NUG Support Team Germany-Deutschland
79. Daik-U Basic Education Students’ Union
80. Daung Sitthe Strike
81. Dawei (Ashaetaw) Women Strike
82. Dawei Basic Education Students’ Union
83. Dawei Youths in Japan (DYJ)
84. Dawei Youths Revolutionary Movement Strike Committee
85. Democracy for Ethnic Minorities Organization
86. Democracy for Myanmar – Working Group (NZ)
87. Democracy Movement Strike Committee-Dawei (DDMSC)
88. Democracy, Peace and Women’s Organization
89. Democratic Youth Council
90. Demoso Basic Education Students’ Union
91. Depayin Township Revolution Steering Committee
92. Depayin Women Strike
93. Doh Atu – Ensemble pour le Myanmar
94. Dragon Dawn (Japan)
95. Education Family Strike
96. Educational Initiatives Prague
97. Equality Myanmar
98. Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
99. European Karen Network

100. Family Private School Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
101. Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
102. Federation of Worker’s Union of Burmese Citizens in Japan (FWUBC)
103. Former Political Prisoners and New Generation Group – Monywa
104. Foundation of Khmer Samaki, CA
105. Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
106. Free Rohingya Coalition
107. Future Thanlwin
108. Gangaw Women Strike
109. General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
110. General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
111. General Strike Coordination Body – GSCB
112. Generation Wave
113. GenY For Revolution Japan
114. German Solidarity with Myanmar Democracy e.V.
115. Global Movement for Myanmar Democracy (GM4MD)
116. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution – Japan
117. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution (South Korea)
118. Golden Heart Organization
119. Grass-root People
120. Hinthada Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
121. Hlaing Thar Yar Basic Education Students’ Union
122. Hope For Youth -Kyushu Japan
123. Hopin Basic Education Students’ Union
124. HTY Scout Channel
125. Human Rights Foundation of Monland
126. In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND), Philippines
127. Incorporated Organization Shilcheon Bulgyo
128. India for Myanmar
129. Industries Strike
130. Info Birmanie
131. Information & Scout News (Hlaing)
132. Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
133. Insein Scout Channel
134. Institute for Asian Democracy
135. Inter-Faith Strike Column
136. Interfaith Youth Coalition on Aids in Myanmar (IYCA – Myanmar )
137. International Association, Myanmar- Switzerland
138. International Child Rights Center
139. International Society of Myanmar Scholars and Professionals (Japan)
140. Japan Myanmar Future Creative Association (JMFCA)
141. Japan Myanmar Help Network
142. Justice For Myanmar
143. Justice Movement for Community – Innlay
144. Kachin Affairs Organization – Japan
145. Kachin State Women Network
146. Kachin Student Union
147. Kachin Women Union
148. Kachin Women’s Association Thailand
149. Kalay Township Strike Force
150. Kalay Women Strike
151. Kalyarna Metta Association (Khin U)
152. Kamayut Scout Channel
153. Kanbung Youth (Matupi)
154. Kanpetlet Land Development Organization
155. Kansai Group Japan
156. Karen Human Rights Group
157. Karen National League Japan-KNL
158. Karen Swedish Community (KSC)
159. Karen Women’s Organization
160. Karen Rivers Network
161. Karenni National Society (KNS) Japan
162. Karenni National Women’s Organization
163. Karenni Society Finland
164. Karenni Society New Zealand
165. Katha Basic Education Students’ Union
166. Kayan Internally Displacement Supervising Committee (KIDSC)
167. Keng Tung Youth
168. Khanthar Farmers Network
169. Khumzup Local Development Committee
170. Kings N Queens
171. Know Us More Myanmar (KUM)
172. Kobe Myanmar Community (KMC)
173. Korea Christian Solidarity for Democracy in Myanmar
174. Korean Civil Society in Support of Democracy in Myanmar (106 NGOs)
175. Korean House for International Solidarity
176. Kyaikhto Basic Education Students’ Union – KBESU
177. Kyain Seikgyi Spring Revolution Leading Committee
178. Kyaukse Basic Education Students’ Union
179. Kyaukse University Interim Administrative Council
180. Kyauktada Strike Committee (KSC)
181. Kyause University Students’ Union
182. Kyimyindaing Scout Channel
183. La Communauté Birmane de France
184. Labor Union Federation
185. Labutta Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
186. Langkho Basic Education Students’ Union
187. Lanmadaw, Latha & Pabedan Scout Channel
188. Lashio Basic Education Students’ Union
189. Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
190. Launglon Basic Education Students’ Union
191. League For Democracy in Burma (L.D.B Japan)
192. Let’s Help Each Other
193. Letpadan Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
194. LGBT Alliance Myanmar
195. LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kalay Region)
196. LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kyaukse Region)
197. LGBT Community Yangon
198. LGBT Union Mandalay (LGBTIQ Strike of Mandalay)
199. Magway People’s Revolution Committee
200. Maharaungmyay Township People’s Strike
201. Mandalar College Students Strike
202. Mandalar University Students’ Strike
203. Mandalar University Students Union
204. Mandalay Alliance Coalition Strike
205. Mandalay Civil Society Organization
206. Mandalay Engineer Group (MEG)
207. Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
208. Mandalay People Strike
209. Mandalay Poets’ Union
210. Mandalay Private Universities Students Union
211. Mandalay Regional Youth Association
212. Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
213. Mandalay Technology University (MTU) Students Union
214. Mandalay Universities, Degree and College Teachers and Staffs Strike
215. Mandalay University Alumni Strike
216. Mandalay University of Foreign Languages Students Union
217. Mandalay Wholesale Centers Strike
218. Mandalay Women Strike
219. Mandalay Youth Strike
220. Mandalay-based People’s Strike
221. Mandalay-Based University Students’ Unions
222. Matu Forum Committee
223. Matu Women Association
224. Mawkmai Basic Education Students’ Union
225. Mawlamyine Basic Education Students’ Union
226. Mayangone News
227. Me Boun Foundation
228. Medical Family Mandalay (MFM)
229. Meikhtila Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
230. Metta Campaign Mandalay
231. Midwifery Training School Students Union (Mandalay)
232. MilkTeaAlliance friends of Myanmar
233. Minbu Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
234. Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute Foundation, Inc.
235. Minority Affairs Institute – Mai (Myanmar)
236. Mogaung Basic Education Students’ Union
237. Mohnyin Basic Education Students’ Union
238. Mon Youth For Federal Democracy (MYFD)
239. Monywa Basic Education Students’ Union – ABFSU
240. Monywa LGBT Strike
241. Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
242. Monywa Women Strike
243. Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
244. Monywa-Amyint Road Women Strike
245. MRJ (Maraja)
246. Mudon Basic Education Students’ Union
247. Multi-Religions Strike
248. Muslim Youth Network
249. Muslim Youths Association
250. Mya Taung Strike
251. Myanmar Accountability Project
252. Myanmar Active Students & Businesspeople Organization (MASBO)
253. Myanmar Democratic Force in Denmark
254. Myanmar Development Support Group (MDSG)
255. Myanmar Diaspora Group Finland
256. Myanmar Emergency Fund Canada (MEF Canada)
257. Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand
258. Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)
259. Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
260. Myanmar Institute of Information and Technology (Mandalay) Students Union
261. Myanmar Institute of Information Technology Students’ Strike
262. Myanmar Labor Alliance (MLA)
263. Myanmar Nationalities’ Support Organization – JP (MNSO)
264. Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
265. Myanmar Railway Division (3) CDM Staffs Strike
266. Myanmar Secret Information – MSI
267. Myanmar Spring Revolution Japan (MSRJ)
268. Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
269. Myanmar Tozan Club (MTC)
270. Myanmar Youth and Student Association, Japan (MYSA)
271. Myanmar’s Youth Association Hokkaido (MYAH)
272. Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
273. National University of Arts and Culture (Mandalay) Students Union
274. Netherlands – Myanmar Solidarity Platform
275. Network of University Student Unions – Monywa
276. New Zealand Doctors for NUG
277. New Zealand Karen Association
278. New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
279. No (12) Basic Education Middle School Student Union
280. No (7) Basic Education High School Alumni Strike
281. 12 Basic Education Branch High School (Maharaungmyay) Students’ Union
282. 12 Basic Education Middle School (High Branch) Basic Education Students’ Union
283. NOK Information & Scout Echo
284. North Dagon & East Dagon News
285. Northern Spectrum Youth Association
286. Nursing Training School Students Union (Mandalay)
287. Nyaunglebin Basic Education Students’ Union
288. OCTOPUS Youth Organization
289. Okinawa Myanmar Association (OMA)
290. Olive Organization
291. Open Development Foundation
292. Overseas Mon Association (New Zealand)
293. Padaung Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
294. Palaung National Society Japan, PNS-Japan
295. Palaw Supporting Group Japan
296. Pale Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
297. Pa-O Women’s Union (PWU)
298. PEC Private School Basic Education Students’ Union
299. People’s Hope Spring Revolution (PHSR)
300. People’s Initiative for Development Alternatives
301. People’s Action Against Dictator CHUN Doo-Hwan
302. People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD)
303. Phayagyi Peace Strike
304. Platform.c
305. Private pre school Teachers’ Association
306. Progressive 3.0
307. Progressive Voice
308. Punnyakari Mon National Society Japan, PMNS-Japan
309. Pyay Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
310. Pyay Underground News – PUGN
311. Pyigyidagon Strike
312. Pyin Nyar Nan Daw Private School Basic Education Students’ Union
313. Pyin Oo Lwin Basic Education Students’ Union
314. Pyinmana Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
315. Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
316. Representative Committee of University Teacher Associations (RC of UTAs)
317. Representing The Arrested People Strike
318. Revolution Tokyo Myanmar (RTM)
319. Rohingya Action Ireland
320. Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
321. Samgha Sammaga-Mandalay
322. Sangha Union Strike
323. Save and Care Organization for Women at Border Areas
324. SAVE MYANMAR – USA
325. Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
326. Save the Salween Network
327. Sein Pan Strike
328. Shan Community (New Zealand)
329. Shan Community in Japan (SCJ)
330. Shan MATA
331. Shan Women Development Network
332. ShizuYouth For Myanmar
333. Shwechinthae Farmers Network
334. Sintgaing Basic Education Students’ Union
335. Sisters 2 Sisters
336. Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
337. Solidarity for Another World
338. Sone See Yar (Volunteer Group)
339. South Dagon Scouting Info (SDG)
340. Southern Youth Development
341. Spring Revolution Interfaith Network-SRIN
342. Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim- SRMMN
343. Spring Revolution Restaurant
344. Stiftung Asienhaus
345. Students for Free Burma
346. Support Group for Democracy in Myanmar (The Netherlands)
347. Ta’ang Women’s Organization
348. Taekwondo Federation
349. Tai Youths Network Japan (TYNJ)
350. Tampawadi People Strike
351. Tamwe Nway Oo Channel
352. Tanintharyi MATA
353. Taunggyi Basic Education Students’ Union
354. Taze Women Strike
355. Technological University (Yadanabon Cyber City) Students Union
356. Technological University Mandalay (TUM) Students Union
357. Tha Pyay Nyo Newsletter
358. Thaketa & Dawbon Scout Channel
359. Thakhin Kodaw Mhine Peace Network (Monywa)
360. Thaton Basic Education Students’ Union
361. Thayat Chaung Women Strike
362. The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society (Monywa)
363. The Center for Freedom of Information
364. The May 18 Memorial Foundation
365. Thint Myat Lo Thu Myar Organization
366. Township Leading Group (Winwmaw)
367. Try Together At Japan (TTAJ)
368. Twitter Team for Revolution (TTFR) – Myanmar
369. U.S. Campaign for Burma
370. Uakthon Local Social Development Organization
371. Union of Myanmar Citizen Association – Japan
372. University of Computer (Mandalay) Students Union
373. University of Dental Medicine (Mandalay) Students Union
374. University of Medical Technology (Mandalay) Students Union
375. University of Medicine (Mandalay) Students Union
376. University of Nursing (Mandalay) Students Union
377. University of Pharmacy (Mandalay) Students Union
378. University of Traditional Medicine (Mandalay) Students Union
379. University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
380. US Advocacy Coalition for Myanmar (USACM)
381. VEC Private School Basic Education Students’ Union
382. Voice For Justice
383. We Are One Saga MOSA
384. We for All
385. We Love Motherland-MM (Malaysia)
386. We Support (Japan)
387. Wetlet Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
388. Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
389. Wetlet Township Women Strike
390. White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
391. Winemaw Civil Society Network
392. Winemaw Lisu Development Association
393. Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
394. Women’s League of Burma
395. Wundwin Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
396. Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
397. Yangon Medical network
398. Yangon Revolution Force – YRF (Soft Strike Community)
399. Yangon Women Strike
400. Yaw Funding Japan
401. Yedashe Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
402. YG Network
403. Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee
404. Yokohama Pamphlet Campaign – Myanmar
405. Youth Network (Tanintharyi Region)
406. Youth Poets’ Union
407. Youth Scout For Democracy (YSD)
408. Z Fighter News
409. Zabuthiri Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
410. Zeegwat News
411. ဂျပန်ပြည်မှတွဲလက်များ
412. မျိုးဆက်-Generations
413. လူငယ်များသမဂ္ဂ – ပုသိမ်
414. လူငယ်များသမဂ္ဂ – ဗဟို
415. 一般社団法人　ミャンマーグローバル支援財団 (MGSF)

***We have received overwhelming support for the statement. Below are list of additional organizations that have signed-on to the statement after its release

1. Yangon People’s Strike
2. Save Myanmar San Francisco

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