To:       The European Parliament
CC:      President of the European Parliament
Leaders of the Political Groups of the European Parliament
The European Commission
The European External Action Service

3 December 2024

Appeal for European Parliament Action on Myanmar: Denounce the Junta’s Sham Election, Support Democracy, and Pursue Justice for Gross Human Rights Violations and Atrocity Crimes

Your Excellencies,

We, 276 Myanmar and Europe-based civil society organizations, urgently appeal to the European Parliament to take the following actions:

•       Pass a new resolution on Myanmar that unequivocally denounces the Myanmar military junta’s plan for sham election
•       Provide for concrete support for Myanmar’s legitimate democracy stakeholders
•       Provide increased support for justice and accountability initiatives, including but not limited to, the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute crimes committed in Myanmar and attached to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar
•       Reiterate the European Parliament’s call in previous resolutions for the UN Security Council’s referral of the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court

Myanmar’s human rights and humanitarian crisis is worsening with each passing day. The junta has severely escalated its horrific atrocities against civilians across the country, including violent ground raids and airstrikes targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. In the first eight months of 2024 alone, the junta conducted an average of seven airstrikes per day—totaling at least 1,639 airstrikes, amounting to nearly half of total airstrikes since the coup attempt in February 2021. The junta’s airstrikes are fueled by aviation fuel supplied under the guise of humanitarian aid delivery, enabling the continued assault on civilians.

These attacks have particularly targeted and affected religious and ethnic minorities—bombing schools in session, religious buildings including churches, medical facilities, and displacement camps. Arson by the junta has been rampant and destroyed at least 105,314 civilian properties as of August. Since the coup attempt, over 3.4 million have been displaced within Myanmar, with hundreds of thousands more across the border.[1] 27,751 people have been detained, including 580 children, with 170 sentenced to death.

Amidst its intensifying violence, the junta has announced plans for a general election in 2025. With no legality and legitimacy, it is completely impossible for the junta to conduct a genuine census, let alone an election. Worse, the junta has resorted to coercion, forcing individuals at gunpoint to participate in the census, a tactic likely to be mirrored in its sham election. A significant majority—86% of the country’s territory and 67% of its population—remains outside its stable control. Any election held under these conditions will not be legitimate, let alone free and fair. It will not represent the will of the people. Nor will it contribute to genuine power-sharing among ethnic and religious communities across Myanmar, making it impossible for sustainable peace. Instead, it will perpetuate the cycle of military dictatorship, violence, and impunity.

Despite the junta’s absolute lack of legitimacy, China and Russia have endorsed and pledged support for the junta’s plan for sham election, both technical and financial. China, for example, plans to contribute around CNY 150 million (EUR 20 million) to fund the junta’s sham census. Meanwhile, the military junta has publicly endorsed Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Both Russia and the junta have supported and benefited from each other. If the junta succeeds in gaining legitimacy, the political and economic implications will reach far beyond the Southeast Asian Region.

The people of Myanmar need support from the European Parliament to unequivocally denounce the sham election of the illegal junta. The European Parliament must send a clear and decisive message to authoritarian regimes that continue to support the Myanmar military junta, urging them to stand in support of the Myanmar people’s aspirations and efforts for genuine federal democracy. These authoritarian regimes are not only enabling the military junta’s efforts to claim legitimacy but also aiding and abetting its atrocity crimes, while pressuring Myanmar’s democratic stakeholders to return to “normalcy” under another cycle of military rule.

The European Parliament has already recognized the National Unity Government (NUG) as the legitimate government of Myanmar and called for support in its efforts to “move towards a peaceful and democratic future”. The European Union’s continued political, financial, and technical support for Myanmar’s legitimate stakeholders, including the NUG, ethnic resistance organizations (EROs), and local civil society organizations, is vital to dismantling military tyranny and promoting a democracy that is inclusive of all ethnic and religious communities.

On the ground, Myanmar people are making immense sacrifices defending their lives and freedom, and building a future of federal democracy, peace, and sustainable governance—free from military tyranny. Bottom-up governance systems—ethnically led and representative of the people’s votes in the general election in November 2020—are set up and operational to serve and govern the people, including the Interim Executive Council of Karenni State. Through local governance systems, public services are provided to local populations, including education, humanitarian aid, healthcare, livelihood support, law enforcement, and access to justice.

We look to your leadership to continue to stand with the people of Myanmar and their legitimate representatives. We appeal to the European Parliament to urgently adopt a resolution that unequivocally denounces the junta’s plan for sham election and urge the European Commission to impose targeted sanctions on all nodes of the aviation fuel supply chain. Furthermore, the European Union should support Myanmar’s locally led governance systems and institutions across Myanmar.

Ensuring accountability for the junta’s genocide against Rohingya and war crimes and crimes against humanity against other ethnic minorities across Myanmar is essential for a future built on justice and durable peace. We call for increased support for justice initiatives: the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute crimes committed in Myanmar, attached to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar; and concrete support for cases under universal jurisdiction. This must be complemented by robust support for local human rights documentation and evidence collection efforts, including protection, technical support, and communications for civil society groups, human rights defenders and documenters, as well as independent media at the frontline.

We further urge the European Parliament to reiterate your existing call for the UN Security Council’s referral of the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC). While we recognize the ICC Prosecutor’s application for an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing as a significant step in the right direction for justice for the Rohingya community, we look forward to an ICC referral that covers the commission of international crimes across the territory of Myanmar.

For more information, please contact:

•       Naw Khin San Htwe, General Secretary of Burmese Women’s Union; [email protected]
•       Nai Aue Mon, Program Director of Human Rights Foundation of Monland; [email protected]
•       Maw Pray Myar, Chairperson of Karenni National Women’s Organization; [email protected]
•       Khin Ohmar, Chairperson of Progressive Voice; [email protected]

Signed by 276 civil society organizations, including 60 organizations that have chosen not to disclose their names

1.         5/ of Zaya State Strike
2.         A-Yar-Taw People Strike
3.         Action Committee of Basic Education Students (ACBES)
4.         Ah Nah Podcast – Conversations with Myanmar
5.         All Arakan Youth Organizations Network (AAYON)
6.         All Aung Myay Thar San Schools Strike Force
7.         All Burma Federation of Student Unions (Monywa District)
8.         Alliance for Democracy in Myanmar
9.         Alliance of Students’ Union – Yangon (ASU-Yangon)
10.     Anti-coup Forces Coordination Committee (ACFCC-Mandalay)
11.     Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon-AJAY
12.     Arakan CSO Network
13.     Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
14.     Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP)
15.     Association Suisse-Birmanie (ASB)
16.     Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
17.     Aung San Suu Kyi Park, Norway
18.     Basic Education General Strike Committee (BEGSC)
19.     Basic Education Worker Unions – Steering Committee (BEWU-SC)
20.     Blood Money Campaign (BMC)
21.     Burma Action Ireland
22.     Burmese Women’s Union (BWU)
23.     CDM Medical Network (CDMMN)
24.     Chanmyatharzi Township People’s Strike
25.     Chaung Oo Township Youth Strike Committee
26.     Chin Community in Norway
27.     Chindwin (West) Villages Women Strike
28.     Civil Information Network (CIN)
29.     Civil Society Organizations Coordination Committee (Monywa)
30.     Co-operative University Mandalay Students’ Strike
31.     Coalition Strike Committee – Dawei
32.     Creative Home (CH)
33.     CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
34.     CRPH Funding Ireland
35.     CRPH Support Group, Norway and members organizations
36.     CRPH, NUG Support Team Germany – Deutschland
37.     Daung Sitthe Strike
38.     Dawei (Ashaetaw) Women Strike
39.     Dawei Youths Revolutionary Movement Strike Committee
40.     Defend Myanmar Democracy (DMD)
41.     Democracy for Ethnic Minorities Organization (DEMO)
42.     Depayin Township Revolution Steering Committee
43.     Depayin Women Strike
44.     Doh Atu – Ensemble pour le Myanmar
45.     Educational Initiatives Prague
46.     Equality Myanmar (EQMM)
47.     Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
48.     Federal Corner
49.     Former ABSDF
50.     Former Political Prisoners and New Generation Group – Monywa
51.     Free Rohingya Coalition (FRC)
52.     Freelance Volunteer Myanmar
53.     Future Light Center           (FLC)
54.     Future Thanlwin
55.     Gangaw Women Strike
56.     General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
57.     General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
58.     General Strike Coordination Body (GSCB)
59.     Generation Wave (GW)
60.     Generations’ Solidarity Coalition of Nationalities (GSCN)
61.     German Solidarity with Myanmar e.V.
62.     HTY Scout Channel
63.     Human Rights Educators Network (HREN)
64.     Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
65.     Industries Strike
66.     Info Birmanie
67.     Information & Scout News (Hlaing)
68.     Integria, z.ú Prague
69.     International Association, Myanmar – Switzerland (IAMS)
70.     Justice & Equality Focus
71.     K’cho Ethnic Association (Europe)
72.     Kachin Association Norway
73.     Kachin Legal Aid Group (KLAG)
74.     Kachin Student Union
75.     Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT)
76.     Kalay Township Strike Force
77.     Kalay Women Strike
78.     Kamayut Scout Channel
79.     KantBaLu Strike Committee
80.     Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
81.     Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN)
82.     Karen Women’s Organization (KWO)
83.     Karenni Hope
84.     Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG)
85.     Karenni Humanitarian Aid Initiative (KHAI)
86.     Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO)
87.     Karenni Social Welfare and Development Center (KSWDC)
88.     KayahLi Phu Youth (KLY)
89.     Kayan New Generation Youth (KNGY)
90.     Kayan Rescue Committee (KRC)
91.     Kayan Women’s Organization (KyWO)
92.     Kayaw Women Association
93.     Kayaw Youth Organization (KwYO)
94.     Keng Tung Youth
95.     Kings N Queens (KNQ)
96.     Kyae Lak Myay
97.     Kyain Seikgyi Spring Revolution Leading Committee
98.     Kyauktada Strike Committee (KSC)
99.     Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
100.   Let’s Help Each Other (LHEO)
101.   LGBT Alliance
102.   LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kalay Region)
103.   LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kyaukse Region)
104.   LGBT Community Yangon
105.   LGBT Union – Mandalay
106.   Magway People’s Revolution Committee
107.   Magway Region Human Rights Network
108.   Maharaungmyay Township People’s Strike
109.   Mandalar University Students’ Strike
110.   Mandalay Alliance Coalition Strike
111.   Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
112.   Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
113.   Mandalay Students’ Strike
114.   Mandalay Women Strike
115.   Mandalay Youth Strike
116.   Mandalay-based People’s Strike
117.   Mandalay-Based University Students’ Unions (MDY_SUs)
118.   MATA Sagaing
119.   Mayangone News
120.   MayMyo Strike Force
121.   Metta Campaign
122.   Monywa LGBT Strike
123.   Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
124.   Monywa Women Strike
125.   Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
126.   Monywa-Amyint Road Women Strike
127.   Multi-Religions Strike
128.   Mya Taung Strike
129.   Myanmar Action Group Denmark
130.   Myanmar Catholic Community In Norway
131.   Myanmar Community Austria (MCA)
132.   Myanmar Community in Norway
133.   Myanmar Democratic Force in Denmark
134.   Myanmar Hindu Union
135.   Myanmar Institute of Information Technology Students’ Strike
136.   Myanmar Labor Alliance (MLA)
137.   Myanmar Tourism Committee (MTC)
138.   Myaung Youth Network
139.   MyaYar Knowledge Tree
140.   Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
141.   Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma)
142.   Network of University Student Unions – Monywa
143.   New Myanmar Foundation
144.   New Rehmonnya Federated Force (NRFF)
145.   NLD Organization Committee (International) Norway
146.   No.12 Basic Education Branch High School (Maharaungmyay) Students’ Union
147.   NOK Information & Scout Echo
148.   North Dagon & East Dagon News
149.   Norway Matu Community
150.   Norway Rawang Community
151.   Nway Oo Guru Lay Myar Education Center
152.   Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
153.   OCTOPUS (Youth Organization)
154.   Olive Organization
155.   Pale Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
156.   Political Prisoners Network – Myanmar (PPN–M)
157.   Progressive Muslim Youth Association (PMYA)
158.   Progressive Voice (PV)
159.   Pyi Gyi Tagon Strike Force
160.   Queers of Burma Alternative (QBA)
161.   Representative Committee of University Teacher Associations (RC of UTAs)
162.   Rohingya Community in Norway
163.   Samgha Sammaga-Mandalay
164.   Save and Care Organization for Ethnic Women at Border Areas (SCOEWBA)
165.   Save Myanmar San Francisco
166.   Save Myanmar USA
167.   Seinpann Strike
168.   Shan MATA
169.   Shwe Pan Kone People’s Strike Steering Committee
170.   Sisters2Sisters
171.   Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
172.   South Dagon Scouting Infos (SDG)
173.   Southern Youth Development Organization
174.   Spring Traveler
175.   Students’ Union Co-operative University
176.   Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO)
177.   Tamar Institute of Development
178.   Tamwe Nway Oo Channel
179.   Taze Strike Committee
180.   Taze Women Strike
181.   Thaketa & Dawbon Scout Channel
182.   Thakhin Kodaw Mhine Peace Network (Monywa)
183.   Thayat Chaung Women Strike
184.   The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society (Monywa)
185.   The Ladies
186.   The Wings Institute
187.   Thint Myat Lo Thu Myar
188.   Twitter Team for Revolution (TTFR)
189.   Union of Karenni State Youth (UKSY)
190.   University Mandalay Students’ Strike
191.   University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
192.   Volunteers in Myanmar
193.   Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
194.   Wetlet Township Women Strike
195.   White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
196.   Women Advocacy Coalition – Myanmar (WAC-M)
197.   Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
198.   Women Development Center
199.   Women for Women Foundation (WWF)
200.   Women Lead Resource Center
201.   Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
202.   Yangon Women Strike
203.   Yasakyo Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
204.   Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee
205.   Youth Empowerment
206.   Youth for Democratization of Myanmar (UDM)
207.   Youth Scout For Democracy (YSD)
208.   Zomi Christian Fellowship of Norway
209.   Zomi Community Norway
210.   ကြာအင်းဆိပ်ကြီးသပိတ်အင်အားစု
211.   ပြည်သူ့သပိတ်အင်အားစု
212.   မျိုးဆက်-Generations
213.   မုန်တိုင်းကြားက သက်တံများ
214.   သပြေညိုရွှေဘိုပန်းအဖွဲ့
215.   သမိုင်းသယ်ဆောင်သူများ
216.   အညာလွင်ပြင်ရပ်ဝန်း

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