To: The Member States of the United Nations Security Council

CC: The United Nations Secretary-General

17 April 2023

Open Letter: The United Nations Security Council’s meeting on Myanmar must lead to firm measures against the junta

Your Excellencies,

We, the undersigned 546 Myanmar, regional and international civil society organizations (CSOs), welcome the United Kingdom’s request for an urgent Security Council discussion on Myanmar to address the illegal military junta’s worst civilian massacre since its failed coup, as well as the junta’s categorical refusal to comply with Security Council Resolution 2669 on Myanmar (December 2022). This “Any Other Business” discussion on 13 April must be followed by a dedicated Council meeting on the situation in Myanmar that leads to punitive measures against the junta under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

On Tuesday 11 April 2023, the illegal military junta in Myanmar launched an aerial attack on a civilian gathering of around 300 people in Pa Zi Gyi Village, Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region. At least 168 people were killed, including 24 women and 40 children. During the attack, a junta’s fighter jet flew over the village in the morning and dropped two bombs on the gathering. It was followed by a junta helicopter gunship that then opened fire on the crowd. Some of the victims’ bodies were so badly maimed they could not be identified. A second attack on the same location was launched by the junta in the evening, with four more bombs dropped, while victims’ bodies were still being retrieved.

The junta’s actions are a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2669, which demanded “an immediate end to all forms of violence throughout the country” (OP1). Yet, since the Security Council adopted the Resolution in December 2022, the military junta has only escalated its campaign of terror and violence against the people of Myanmar.

The airstrike on Pa Zi Gyi Village came just one day after junta airstrikes in Va and Waibula Villages of Falam Township in Chin State, which killed nine civilians and destroyed homes and schools.  Throughout March 2023, the junta’s so-called “Ogre Column” has carried out a series of raids on villages in southern Sagaing Region, massacring more than 30 people, including children, and decapitating and dismembering victims’ bodies. On 11 March, junta forces killed 29 civilians, including three monks, at a monastery in Pinlaung Township, Shan State. On 14 and 16 February 2023, the junta’s jet fighters dropped bombs in Mutraw District, Karen State, destroying two rice warehouses and seven schools.

Last week, the UN Human Rights Council adopted Resolution on Myanmar (A/HRC/52/32) by consensus that condemned the junta’s deliberate, widespread, indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force against civilians. The resolution referred directly to the junta’s airstrike against a school in Let Yet Kone Village, Sagaing Region in September 2022 that killed 11 children, and its airstrike one month later targeting a concert in Hpakant, Kachin State, that killed more than 60 people. The Human Rights Council Resolution demanded that the junta immediately cease all air strikes. The junta responded with the April 11 attack on Pa Zi Gyi Village.

At the same time as launching ground and increasing aerial attacks on civilians in many states and regions where the people’s resistance movement has taken strongholds, the junta is deliberately forcibly displacing people and cutting off humanitarian access to vast parts of the country. According to the most recent figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 1.8 million people are now displaced inside Myanmar, but this number of displacements is likely higher. The junta is deliberately fuelling a nationwide humanitarian emergency to advance its political and military agenda.

Excellencies, the military junta has no regard for the lives of the Myanmar people, no regard for the rule of law, and no regard for international peace and security. The junta will not respond to words, only to action. Therefore, we call on the UN Security Council to adopt firm measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to enforce the military junta’s compliance with Resolution 2669. Those measures should include targeted economic sanctions against the military junta, a comprehensive arms embargo including on aviation fuel, and referral of the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court or the establishment of an ad hoc tribunal.

Resolution 2669 also calls for “concrete and immediate actions, noting the military’s commitments to ASEAN Leaders, to effectively and fully implement ASEAN’s Five Point Consensus” (OP6). But there will be no progress made towards the implementation of the Five Point Consensus while the junta’s violence continues and its use of airstrikes against civilians increases. If the Security Council does not act now, we fear the crisis in Myanmar will rapidly reach the point of no return.

For more information, please contact:

• Khin Ohmar, Progressive Voice; [email protected]
• Salai Za Uk Ling, Chin Human Rights Organization; [email protected]
• Grace, Youths for Community Myaung; [email protected]

Signed by 546 civil society organizations, including 248 CSOs who have chosen to not disclose their name:

1. #MilkTeaAlliance Friends of Myanmar
2. 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
3. Action Against Myanmar Military Coup
4. Action Committee for Democracy Development (Coalition of 14 grassroots networks)
5. Active Youths Kalaymyo
6. Ah Nah Podcast – Conversations with Myanmar
7. La. Ka (12) Hta Khwe. Primary Education Student Union
8. All Burma Democratic Front in New Zealand
9. All Burma Indigenous People Alliance
10. All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP)
11. All Religions Strike Column
12. All Young Burmese League
13. ALTSEAN-Burma
14. Anti Dictatorship in Burma – DC Metropolitan Area
15. Anti-Myanmar Military Dictatorship Network Australia (AMMDNA)
16. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights – APHR
17. ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
18. ASEAN Youth Forum Secretariat
19. Asia Citizen Future Association
20. Asia Democracy Network
21. Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
22. Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition
23. Asian Cultural Forum on Development Foundation (ACFOD)
24. Asian Dignity Initiative
25. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
26. Assistance Association for Political Prisoners
27. Association for Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
28. Association Suisse-Birmanie
29. Associazione per l’Amicizia Italia Birmana Giuseppe Malpeli
30. Athan – Freedom of Expression Activists Organization
31. Auckland Kachin Community NZ
32. Auckland Zomi Community
33. Aung Myay Thar Zan Education Schools Strike Column
34. Aung Pin Lae Main Strike Column
35. Aung San Suu Kyi Park Norway
36. Australian Coalition for Democracy in Burma
37. Australian Karen Organisation
38. Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organization (Magway Region)
39. Backpack Health Workers Team
40. Bandugvala Civil Call
41. Blood Money Campaign (BMC)
42. Blooming Padauk
43. Burma Action Ireland
44. Burma Campaign UK
45. Burma Human Rights Network
46. Burma Lawyer Council
47. Burma Medical Association
48. Burma Support
49. Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA)
50. Burmese Community Development Collaboration
51. Burmese Community Group (Manawatu, NZ)
52. Burmese Community South Australia
53. Burmese Community Support Group
54. Burmese Medical Association Australia
55. Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK
56. Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
57. Burmese Women’s Union
58. Campaign for a New Myanmar
59. Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD), Thailand
60. CDM Support Team Mandalay
61. Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS)
62. Chan Mya Thar Si Township People Strike Column
63. Chin Community in Norway
64. Chin Community of Auckland
65. Chin Community of USA DC Area
66. Chin Human Rights Organization
67. Chin MATA Working Group
68. Citizen of Burma Award – New Zealand
69. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
70. Civil Rights Defenders
71. Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS)
72. Cooperative University Student Strike Column
73. CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
74. CRPH Funding Ireland
75. CRPH Support Group, Norway
76. CRPH, NUG Support Team Germany-Deutschland
77. Daung Sit Thi
78. Dawei Development Association (DDA)
79. Democracy, Peace and Women’s Organization
80. Democratic Youth Council
81. Digital Rights Collective
82. Doh Atu – Ensemble pour le Myanmar
83. Dream Hope’s Goals (Media & Productions)
84. Dunedin Myanmar Community New Zealand
85. Education Family (Anti – Fascists Education Strike Columns Coordination Committee)
86. Education Initiative Prague
87. Equality Myanmar
88. Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee
89. European Karen Network
90. Falam Chin Community South Australia
91. Federal FM – Mandalay
92. Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
93. Finland Myanmar Society Ry
94. Former ABSDF International
95. ForumCiv
96. Free Burma Action Committee – Central Valley
97. Free Burma Action Committee – Northern California
98. Free Burma Action Committee – Sacramento
99. Free Burma Action Committee – San Francisco
100. Free Burma Campaign (South Africa) – FBC (SA))
101. Freedom and Labor Action Group (FLAG)
102. Future Light Centre
103. Future Thanlwin
104. General Strike Committee of Nationalities (GSCN)
105. Generation Wave
106. German Solidarity with Myanmar Democracy eV
107. Gimpo Myanmar Friends Korea
108. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution
109. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution (Japan)
110. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution (Korea)
111. Grass-root People
112. Help Myanmar
113. Helping Hands for Burma
114. HTY Scout Channel
115. Human Rights Educators Network
116. Human Rights Foundation of Monland
117. Industrial Training Centre (ITC) Family Sydney
118. Info Birmanie
119. Information & Scout News (Hlaing)
120. Initiatives for International Dialogue
121. Insein Scout Channel
122. Institute for Asian Democracy
123. Inter Pares
124. International Association, Myanmar-Switzerland (IAMS)
125. International Campaign for the Rohingya
126. Justice For All
127. Justice For Myanmar
128. Kachin Association Australia
129. Kachin Association Norway
130. Kachin National Forum
131. Kachin Women’s Association Thailand
132. Karen Community in Norway
133. Karen Human Rights Group
134. Karen Organization of America
135. Karen Peace Support Network
136. Karen Swedish Community
137. Karen Women’s Organization
138. Karenni Association – Norway
139. Karenni MATA
140. Karenni National Women’s Organization
141. Karenni Society New Zealand
142. Kayan Women’s Organization
143. K’cho Ethnic Association
144. Keng Tung Youth, Shan MATA
145. Korean Civil Society in Support of Democracy in Myanmar
146. Kyae Lak Myay
147. Kyaukse University Students’ Union
148. Kyauktada Strike Committee
149. Kyimyindaing Scout Channel
150. La Communauté BIRMANIE de France
151. Lanmadaw, Latha & Pabedan Scout Channel
152. LGBTIQ Strike of Mandalay
153. Maha Aung Myay Township People Collective Strike Column
154. Mandalar University Student Strike Column
155. Mandalay Alliance Strike Collective Column
156. Mandalay Based People Strike Column
157. Mandalay Civil Society Organizations
158. Mandalay Engineer Group
159. Mandalay Engineer United Force
160. Mandalay Regional Youth Association
161. Mandalay University Student Alumni Union
162. Mandalay Wholesale Strike Column
163. Mandalay Youth Strike Column
164. MATA Sagaing Region
165. Matu Burma Foundation
166. Matu Chin Community – NSW/UPU Chin Association
167. Matu Chin Community South Australia
168. Mayangone News
169. Medical Family – Mandalay
170. Metta Campaign Mandalay
171. MIIT Student Strike Column
172. Minbu Farmer Group
173. Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute Foundation, Inc. (MPI)
174. Mindat Chin Community NSW
175. Minhla Development Organization
176. Minority Affairs Institute
177. Mizo Community South Australia
178. Mon National Council
179. Muslim Youth Network
180. Muslim Youth Union
181. Mya Taung Strike Column
182. Myanmar Accountability Project
183. Myanmar Action Group Denmark
184. Myanmar Anti-military Coup Movement in New Zealand
185. Myanmar Baptist Churches in Norway
186. Myanmar Campaign Network
187. Myanmar Catholic Community In Norway
188. Myanmar Community Coffs Harbour (MCC)
189. Myanmar Community Group Christchurch New Zealand
190. Myanmar Community Group Dunedin New Zealand
191. Myanmar Community in Norway
192. Myanmar Cultural Research Society
193. Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand
194. Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
195. Myanmar Hindu Community – Norway
196. Myanmar Muslim Organization – Norway
197. Myanmar Muslim Revolution Force
198. Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
199. Myanmar Professionals Association Australia (MPAA)
200. Myanmar Railway, Region (3) CDM Strike Column
201. Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
202. Myaung Education Network
203. Myaung Medical Team
204. Myinmu Helping Hands
205. Naphe Development Organization
206. National Advocacy Group – New Zealand
207. Nelson Myanmar Community Group New Zealand
208. Netherlands Myanmar Solidarity Platform
209. Network for Human Rights Documentation Burma (ND-Burma)
210. New Rehmonnya Federated Force – NRFF
211. New York City Burmese Community
212. New Zealand Doctors for NUG
213. New Zealand Karen Association
214. New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
215. NLD Solidarity Association (NSW chapter)
216. No 7 State High School Alumni Strike Column
217. No Business With Genocide
218. NOK Information & Scout Echo
219. North Dagon & East Dagon News
220. Norway Falam Community
221. Norway Matu Community
222. Norway Rvwang Community
223. NSW Karenni (Kayah) Communities
224. Nway Oo Guru Lay Myar
225. Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
226. One Dollar For People Of Burma
227. Overseas Mon Association, New Zealand
228. Padauk, Suomi-Myanmar Seura
229. Pakokku Youth Development Council
230. Pan Pa Wash People Strike Column
231. Phayagye Peace Strike Column
232. Private Pre- school Teachers Association
233. Progressive Muslim Youth Association
234. Progressive Voice
235. Pwintphyu Development Organization (Magway Region)
236. Pyi Gyi Ta Gon Strike
237. Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
238. Rohingya Community in Norway
239. ROTARY Peace Fellowship Alumni Association, Makerere University, Uganda
240. Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
241. Sangha Samaga Strike Column
242. Save and Care Organization for Ethnic Women at Border Areas
243. Save Myanmar (San Francisco)
244. Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
245. Save Myanmar USA
246. SaNaR (Save the Natural Resources)
247. SEA Junction
248. Sein Pan Strike Column
249. Shan Community (New Zealand)
250. Shan MATA
251. Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
252. South Dagon Scouting Infos (SDG)
253. Southern Dragon Myanmar
254. Southern Youth Development Organization, Tanintharyi MATA
255. Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Network
256. Spring University Myanmar
257. Strike Column of Representatives of Arbitrarily Arrested People
258. Strike Column of Teachers from Universities and Degree Colleges of Mandalay
259. Support Group for Democracy in Myanmar (The Netherlands)
260. Swedish Burma Committee
261. Swedish Foundation for Human Rights
262. Sydney Friends For Myanmar
263. Synergy – Social Harmony Organization
264. Ta’ang Legal Aid
265. Ta’ang Women’s Organization
266. Taekwando Sport Association
267. Tamwe Nway Oo Channel
268. Tanintharyi MATA
269. Tenasserim Student Unions’ Network -TSUN
270. Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma
271. Thaketa & Dawbon Scout Channel
272. Thapaynyo Newsletter
273. The Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
274. The Ladies
275. The National Council of Swedish Children and Youth Organizations (LSU)
276. Think Centre, Singapore
277. Transparency International Czech Republic
278. S Campaign for Burma
279. Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
280. United Hands for New Myanmar (American-Myanmar Society)
281. Volunteers in Myanmar
282. We Pledge CDM (Australia)
283. WITNESS
284. Women Activists Myanmar
285. Women Advocacy Coalition – Myanmar
286. Women’s League of Burma
287. Women’s Peace Network
288. Yangon Medical Network
289. Youth for Democratization of Myanmar
290. Youth Scout For Democracy
291. Youths for Community Myaung
292. Z Fighter News
293. Zomi Association Australia Inc.
294. Zomi Christian Fellowship of Norway
295. Zomi Community Norway
296. မြန်မာမွတ်စလင်အစည်းအရုံး (BMA)
297. အထက်အညာလွင်ပြင်ရပ်ဝန်း
298. အလင်းရောင်လူငယ်များ – Light Of Youth Myanmar

Additional endorsements

1. IOGT-NTO Movement, Sweden
2. Forum ONG Timor-Leste (FONGTIL)
3. Burmese Canadian Network
4. Myanmar Emergency Fund (Canada)

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