20 August 2020

We, the undersigned organizations, are strongly opposed to the recent granting of over one billion US dollars of loans to the Naypyidaw government for its Covid-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP), by international financial institutions and governments.

This massive plan, which was rushed through parliament, will not benefit the ethnic people and the poor of Burma. It will be used to promote the interests of government and military elites, by aiding private banks — which mostly lend to businesses in Yangon and Mandalay, in a process that will be riddled with corruption.

The funds will also be used to “fast-track” large-scale infrastructure projects, such as hydropower dams, even though these are strongly opposed by ethnic communities – who are demanding a moratorium on such projects until power is devolved under a new federal constitution. These projects are being secured by government troops, who commit abuses against local civilians with impunity.

CERP funds will also be allocated towards health services, but only through the inefficient, centralized government system, which was last ranked by the World Health Organization as the 2nd worst performing health system in the world. For decades, it has failed to address the health needs of the ethnic peoples. Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, government troops have even destroyed our own community screening and protection infrastructures in place to prevent the spread of the disease.

The CERP is clearly a vehicle for the government to exploit the pandemic to fill their coffers, and strengthen their hegemony — but disastrous for the ethnic peoples, and for prospects of establishing a genuine federal union, which can end the 70-year-long civil war.

In fact, Burma does not need foreign loans. It is rich in natural resources, which, if properly managed, could enable the entire population to prosper. But these resources, mostly in our ethnic lands, have been plundered for decades by the Burma Army and their cronies, and used to buy weapons against us. The government allocates over US$2 billion a year to the military in its central budget.

We are appalled that these massive loans have been granted to a government facing trial at the International Court of Justice for breaching the Genocide Convention, and whose security forces are committing ongoing atrocities against the ethnic peoples. These loans will surely subsidize the war against us, and yet we, our children and grandchildren, are the ones who will have to pay back the loans and suffer immense environmental and economic consequences.

The International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency have clearly ignored the interests of the ethnic peoples in providing loans to Burma’s CERP. This is dangerous and irresponsible, and certain to fuel Burma’s decades-long civil war.

We do not support any international loans to Burma until a federal democratic union is established where we can first ensure our existing resources are used equitably and any loans, if necessary, are for the benefit of all citizens, not just those in power.

Contact Persons:

Naw Wahku Shee: + 66 86 118 2261 (English, Karen)
Saw Hayso : + 66 97 998 7048 (English, Karen, Burmese)

Endorsing organizations:

1. Ahlin Tagar Rural Development Organization
2. Ahr Thit Yaung Chi ( Hline Bwe )
3. All Arakan Civil Society Organization Partnership
4. Alinsaetamarn Library & Resource Center.
5. Arr Marn Thit Social Development Organization
6. Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organization. (Magway Region )
7. Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organization. (Nagphe)
8. Ayeyawady Youth Network
9. Ayyar Pyo May Women Development Organization
10. AYY Famar Union
11. Arakan Oil Watch
12. Bago Women Development Group
13. Burma Medical Association
14. Burma Environmental Working Group
15. Canadian Burma Ethnic Nationalities Organization
16. Calgary Karen Community Association
17. Calgary Karen Community Youth Organization
18. Chin Land Affair Network
19. Chinland Natural Resources Watch Group
20. Child Prevention Network
21. Chin Women Development Organization
22. Chin State MATA Working Group
23. Child Care Foundation (Myawaddy)
24. Citizen Action For Transparency
25. Community Response Group
26. Community Association Development
27. Constitution Network ( Hpa An )
28. Dawei Development Association
29. Dama Ahlin Social Development Organization
30. Dawei Watch Foundation
31. Doe Myay Community Development Organization (Twantay)
32. Doe Myae Civil Social Development Organization
33. Edmonton Karen Community Association
34. Farmers And Land Rights Action Group
35. Famar Agricultural Network
36. Federal Affairs and Policy Center
37. Free Education Service Organization
38. Free and Justice Women Network ( Hpa An )
39. FREELAND Organization
40. Future Star Youth Organization
41. Future Light Social Development Organization
42. Future Light for Child
43. Future Light Center
44. Gayunarshin Social Development Organization
45. Genuine People’s Servant
46. Golden Future Social Development Organization
47. Golden Heart Organization
48. Green Network- Mergui Archipelago
49. Halcyon
50. Human Rights Foundation of Monland
51. Hline Bwe Youth Network
52. Heartland Foundation(Lashio)
53. Hkumzup Development Committee
54. Htum Thit Sa Rural Development Organization
55. Hope For Children Development Organization
56. Hsar Du Wor CBO ( Than Taunggyi )
57. Hsar Ka Baw CBO ( Than Taunggyi )
58. Hsar Mu Htaw CSO( Than Taunggyi )
59. Htaw Mae Pa CSO ( Hline Bwe )
60. Harmony Youth Association
61. IFI Watch Myanmar
62. International Karen Organization
63. Justice Movement for Community – Innlay
64. Justice Society(Lashio)
65. Karen River Watach
66. Karen Community of Austin, Texas.
67. Karen Human Rights Group
68. Karen Community Society of British Columbia
69. Karen Organization of America
70. Karen Community of Regina
71. Karen Community of Minnesota
72. Karen Community of Saskatoon
73. Karen Community of Winnipeg
74. Karen Community of Thunder Bay
75. Karen Community of Toronto
76. Karen Community of Hamilton
77. Karen Community of London
78. Karen Community of Winsor
79. Karen Community of Leamington
80. Karen Youth of Toronto
81. Karen Community of Ottawa
82. Karen Youth of Norway
83. Karen Community of Ireland
84. Karen Community of Israel
85. Karen Community of Finland
86. Karen Swedish Community
87. Karen Community of Czech Republic
88. Karen Community of Nebraska
89. Karen Community of Iowa
90. Karen Community of Kansas City
91. Karen Organization of Illinois
92. Karen Community of Louisville
93. Karen Community of Utica
94. Karen Community of Akron Inc
95. Karen Community of North Carolina
96. Karen Community of Canada
97. Karen Community of Kitchener-Waterloo
98. Karen Community of Norway
99. Karen Affairs Group (Hpa An)
100. Karen Environmental and Social Action Network- Kawthoolei
101. Karen State Women Network (Hpa An )
102. Karen Youth Organization KYO ( Kyar Inn Sate Kyee )
103. Karen Youth Organization ( Hpa Pun )
104. Kachin Development Networking Group
105. KNU Concerned Group
106. Kyaukpyu SEZ Watch
107. Kaung Myat Hnalonethar Health Care Organization
108. Kan Chay Arr Man Fishery Development Organization
109. Kanpetlet Land Development Organization
110. Kayah Earthrights Action Network
111. Kayan New Generation Youth
112. Karuna Foundation ( Kawkareik )
113. Kyondoe Youth Development Group
114. Karenni Civil Society Network
115. Karenni State Farmer Union
116. Kyun Ta Htaung Myay Foundation
117. Kayah Baptist Association-CSSDD
118. Karenni Human Rights Group
119. LAIN – Technical Support
120. Lin Lett Kyal Social Development Organization
121. Light Social Development Organization
122. LatButta Famar Union
123. Living Water Organization
124. Lu Mu Htar CBO ( Than Taunggyi )
125. Myanmar Digital Rescue
126. May Doe Arrman Women Development Organization
127. Myanmar Cultural Research Society MCRS
128. Myanmar People’s Alliance ( Shan State )
129. Muditar Organization
130. Myit Ma Ayeyarwaddy Development Organization
131. Myanmar Press Freedom Center
132. Mwetaung Area Development Group
133. Mon Literature and Culture Association ( Kawkareik )
134. Mi Kayin Youth ( Hpa An )
135. Myanmar Labour News
136. Mon Youth Progressive Organization
137. Ninggawn Institute
138. Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
139. Nyein Thanlwin Foundation
140. Open Development Foundation
141. Peace Working Committee
142. Peasants Legal Aid Network
143. Pwintphyu development organization.
144. Paungsee Myittar Organization
145. Pone Yate Sit Regional Development Organization
146. Pan Tain Shin Women Rural Development Organization
147. Pan Thi Kyo LGBT Organization
148. Phyu Sin Myittar Social Development Organization
149. Paung Ku
150. Progressive Voice
151. Pa-O Youth Organization
152. Resource Rights for the Indigenous Peoples
153. Rakha Strength Social Development Organization
154. Rural Social Development Organization
155. Rule of law watch group
156. Reliable Organization
157. Rual Development Organization
158. Shan Sapawa
159. Social Program Aid for Civic Education
160. Shwe Chinthae Social Service Group ( Shwebo )
161. Saytana Shaesaung Youth Organization
162. SarPhyu Famar Network
163. Sarnar Kyi Phyu Social Development Organization
164. Shwe Thinkha Social Development Organization
165. Swam Su Ti Rural Development Organization
166. Shwe Nathar Famar Development Organization
167. Saytanar Shin Social Development Organization
168. Southern Youth Development Organization
169. Students and Youth Congress of Burma
170. Shan Women Development Network
171. Sane Lann Myo Set ( Hpa An )
172. Salween Network
173. Summer Shelter Library
174. Sittaung Thanzin Network
175. Synergy
176. Syracuse Karen Community Inc
177. Save the Natural Resource
178. Save the Salween Network
179. Taunggyi Education Network
180. Ta’ang Legal Aid
181. Transparency and Accountability Network of Kachin State
182. Tarkapaw
183. Thit Sar Gone Network
184. Thunder Bay Karen Community Association
185. THWEE CSO ( Kawkareik )
186. Third Eye Organization
187. Uakthon Local Social Development Organization
188. Union of Karenni State Youth
189. Wan Lark Development Foundation
190. Worker Development Organization
191. We Generation Network (WGN)
192. Windayel Village Social Organization ( Hpa An )
193. Waingmaw CSO Network (WCSON)
194. Women Capacity Building ( Kawkareik )
195. Women League of Burma
( 1. Burmese Women’s Union )
(2. Pa-O Women’s Union )
(3. Karenni Women’s Organization)
(4. Rakhaing Women’s Union)
(5. Kachin Women’s Association Thailand)
(6. Shan Women’s Action Network)
(7.Kukki Women’s Human Rights Organization )
(8. Ta’ang Women’s Organization)
(9. Karen Women’s Organization)
(10. Tavoy Women’s Union)
(11.Kayan Women’s Organization)
(12.Women’s for Justice)
(13. Lahu Women’s Organization)
196. Young Ni Oo Social Development Organization
197. Young Ni Oo Women Group
198. Yai Ywal Yar Youth Development Organization
199. Yatanar Youngyi Social Development Organization
200. Youth Circle
201. 3 Dimension Community Development Group
202. တောင်သူလယ်သမားသမဂ္ဂ
203. ကန့်ဘလူမြို့နယ်
204. ကလျာဏမိတ္တလူမှုကူညီရေးအသင်း (ရေဦး)
205. အနာဂါတ်အလင်း ဖွံ့ဖြိုးရေးကော်မတီ
206. အလင်းရောင်ပန်းတိုင် ဖွံ့ဖြိုးရေးကော်မတီ
207. ရေအေးမိတ်ဖက်ဖွံ့ဖြိုးရေးကော်မတီ
208. စိမ်းလဲ့ဧရာ အမျိုးသမီးဖွံ့ဖြိုးတိုးတက်ရေးအဖွဲ့
209. မွန်စာပေနှင့် ယဉ်ကျေးမှုအဖွဲ့ (ကော့ကရိတ်မြို့နယ်)
210. လွတ်လပ်သောလူ့ဘောင် (ဖားအံမြို့နယ်)
211. ဝင်းဒရယ်ကျေးရွာလူမှုရေးအဖွဲ့ (ဖားအံမြို့နယ်)
212. လူငယ်အစည်းအရုံး – ပဲခူး
213. မြန်မာရပ်လူငယ်အဖွဲ့- သီပေါ
214. အမျိုးသမီးစွမ်းဆောင်ရည်မြှင့်တင်ရေး (ကော့ကရိတ်မြို့နယ်)
215. ငွေရောင်အနာဂတ်အဖွဲ့- သီပေါ
216. သီပေါအမျိုးသမီးကွန်ရက် – သီပေါ
217. လီဆူအမျိုးသမီးအဖွဲ့ – သီပေါ
218. လွတ်လပ်သော အရှိုချင်းများအင်အားစု
219. ဒို့မြေကွန်ယက်
220. ပွင့်ဖြူလယ်ယာမြေကွန်ယက်
221. အမျိုးသမီးကိုယ်ထူကိုယ်ထအဖွဲ့ ( ရန်ကုန်အခြေစိုက်)
222. ရခိုင်ပြည်အရပ်ဖက်အဖွဲ့အစည်းများ ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေးကော်မတီ
223. ပြည်သာယာ ဌာနေအမျိုးသမီးများ ဖွံ့ဖြိုးတိုးတက်ရေးအဖွဲ့
224. မင်းလှလူငယ်စင်တာ

Download the statement in English.

Download the statement in Burmese.

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