Joint Open Letter From Myanmar Civil Society Organizations to the UN Human Rights Council to Request the Security Council to Protect the Peoples of Myanmar
To: Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council
Subject:Joint Open Letter From Myanmar Civil Society Organizations to the UN Human Rights Council to Request the Security Council to Protect the Peoples of Myanmar
Your Excellencies,
We, the undersigned Myanmar Civil Society Organizations, call on the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Member and Observer States to pass a resolution that calls on the UN Security Council to immediately send an intervention and monitoring mission to Myanmar to end violence and use of lethal force against peaceful protesters by the Myanmar military junta, prevent further bloodshed and loss of life, and release all of those arbitrarily detained.
Since 1 February, at least 30 people have been killed and many others have been seriously injured at the hands of security forces ordered to inflict harm on peaceful protesters exercising their fundamental freedoms of assembly, expression and association. In a letter dated 24 February, 2021, over 400 CSOs from Myanmar supported by over 50 CSOs called on the UN Security Council to immediately dispatch an enhanced monitoring and intervention mission to Myanmar and to urgently impose a coordinated global arms embargo on Myanmar.
It is of the utmost importance that the UN Security Council responds through a series of swift measures to end the ongoing violence. The HRC established UN International Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar has concluded that there is credible evidence that the Myanmar military has committed grave human rights violations, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity – this is the same military that has illegally seized power. In recent weeks, we have witnessed a serious escalation in the ferocity of violence and intimidation against peoples of Myanmar by an illegitimate military junta.
Since 1 February when the Myanmar military seized power in an illegitimate and unlawful power grab, police with the support of soldiers have used excessive force and lethal weapons against peaceful protesters and bystanders, including beatings, rubber bullets, water cannons, stun grenades, tear gas and live ammunition.
On 28 February, at least 18 people have been killed and more than 30 wounded in coordinated crackdowns throughout Myanmar. Scenes of people being brutally gunned down in the streets, while trying to flee from advancing police and military shootings have become all too common.
On 20 February, two people were killed, and dozens were injured when police, with support from soldiers, fired live ammunition into the dockworkers protesting 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 Thwaet Thwaet Khaing, a 19-year old female student was shot in the head by police in Naypyidaw, later died in hospital as a result of this incident on 19 February 2021.
Journalists and media reporting on the peaceful protests are facing intimidation and threats as well as arbitrary arrests, assault and physical surveillance.
Since the early hours of 14 February, the Internet has been cut off every night between 1am and 9am, and a blanket ban on social media persists. In addition, the military has added other draconian restrictions by enacting and amending series of laws related to cyber security.
There has been a significant increase in the 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 Civil Disobedience Movement, continue to be arrested at night. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a total of 1213 people have been arrested, charged or sentenced in relation to the military coup as of 1 March. The whereabouts of many of those arrested and the conditions of confinement are unknown.
These acts of extreme violence and general insecurity is extremely worrying. Many have died in pursuit of genuine federal democracy and we call on the HRC to support and amplify the voices of those on the ground calling for democracy, peace and justice.
Therefore, it is with great urgency that we call on the UN Human Rights Council to pass a resolution that:
Urges 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;
Impose targeted sanctions on military leaders, military-linked businesses and its partners; and,
Impose a coordinated, global arms embargo on Myanmar.
Mandates the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to follow up on the findings and recommendations of the reports and papers of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, and, in particular as a follow up to its conference paper on the economic interests, to present a comprehensive report on the implementation of its findings and recommendations at the 51st session of the Council.
In addition, we call on the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council to call on Myanmar military regime takes the following actions:
Immediately and unconditionally release all those who have been arbitrarily detained;
Immediately end the use of violence and excessive force, unlawful use of water cannons, tear gas, stun grenades, rubber bullets and use of live ammunition against protesters, and cease all arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances;
Respect people’s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and right to privacy, including by ensuring that the public and protesters have unfettered Internet access, and lift all restrictions on access to social media platforms, VPN as well as media sites and refrain from imposing further restrictions against use of Internet;
End all violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, especially in ethnic and ceasefire areas, and ensure that all civilians are protected, including by lifting all barriers to humanitarian assistance and ensuring the non-interference of aid to ethnic areas; and,
Immediately halt all ongoing military offensives in ethnic areas.
We further call on the UN Human Rights Council, all UN agencies and the international community to support Myanmar to achieve a roadmap that establishes a federal democratic union, ensuring a long-term sustainable peace, ethnic equality, and protection of human rights of all peoples, and implement constitutional change that is in line with the will of the people.
Our lives may depend on your concerted action.
Please accept the assurance of our highest consideration.
Signed by 452 civil society organizations:
A Lin Pya Kyal
A Lin Tan
A Lin Thi Tan
A Nar Gatt Thit Group
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)
Action Committee for Democracy Development
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 Environmental 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
Association, Washington state
Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organization (Minhla)
Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organization (Ngaphae)
AYY Farmer Union
Ayyar Pyo May Women Development Organization
Ba Ann Media Group
Backpack Health Workers Team
Burmese Ethics families and Burma /Myanmar student
Burmese Democratic Force (USA)
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)
Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK)
Burmese Women’s Union
Calgary Karen Community Association (CKCA)
California Karen Youth Forum, CA, USA
CBT Gaw Ran Gyi Island (Nan Thar Pu)
Child Protection Group
Chin Agency
Chin Community Base Rehabilitation
Chin Human Rights Organization
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 for Ethnic Minorities Organization
Democracy, Peace and Women Organization
Democracy, Peace and Women Organization
Diversity and Public Truth
Doe Myae Civil Social Development Organization
Edmonton Karen Community Youth 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 Foundation of Monland
International Karen Organization
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 American Association of Wisconsin, WI, USA
Karen Association of Huron, SD, USA
Karen Community of Akron, OH, USA
Karen Community of Canada (KCC)
Karen Community of Czech Republic
Karen Community of Finland
Karen Community of Hamilton
Karen Community of Iowa, IA, USA
Karen Community of Ireland
Karen Community of Israel
Karen Community of Kansas City, KS & MO, USA
Karen Community of Kitchener & Waterloo
Karen Community of Leamington
Karen Community of Lethbridge
Karen Community of London
Karen Community of Minnesota, MN, USA
Karen Community of North Carolina, NC, USA
Karen Community of Ottawa
Karen Community of Regina
Karen Community of Saskatoon
Karen Community of Thunderbay
Karen Community of Toronto
Karen Community of Windsor
Karen Community of Winnipeg
Karen Community Society of British Columbia (KCSBC)
Karen Environmental and Social Action Network
Karen Grassroots Women Network
Karen Human Rights Group
Karen Organization of America
Karen Organization of Illinois, IL, USA
Karen Organization of San Diego, CA, USA
Karen Peace Support Network
Karen Thai Group -Karen Youth Network
Karen Women’s Organization
Karen Youth Education Pathways, USA
Karen Youth of Norway
Karen Youth of Toronto
Karen Youth Organization
Karenni Civil Society Network
Karenni National Youth Organization (KNYO)
Karenni National Women Organization
Karenni Evergreen (KEG)
Karenni Student Union (KSU)
Karen Legal and Human Rights Center (KnLHRC)
Karenni Social Welfare and Development Centre (KSWDC)
Karenni Refugee Committee (KnRC)
Karenni Health Department (KnHD)
Karenni Literacy and Cultural Development Committee (KLCDC)
Karenni Education Department (KnED)
Karenni Ever Green
Karenni MATA
Karenni National Women’s Organization
Karenni National Youth Organization
Karenni State Farmer Union
KatanKyun Development Group
Kaung Myat Hnalonethar Health Care Organization
Kaung Rwai Social Justice and Development Organization
Kayan Earth Right Action Network
Kayan New Generation Youth
Kayan Women’s 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 Watch
Kin Ywar (Ma da yar Youth)
Kindness Foundation (Shan)
KOG
Kong Jor Shan Refugee Camp
Korea Karen Organization
Korea Karen Youth Organization
Kyaik Hti Yo Mountain Range Lover Association
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)
Lu Mu Htar Group
Ma Day Island Youth Development Association
Ma Naw Phyu
Maetao Clinic
Mandalay Affairs Team
Mandalay Regional Youth Association
Mandalay Regional Youth Network
Mandalay Women Political Federation (MWPF)
Mann Thingaha (Gender GBV Team)
Manoeyone Future Light Environmental and Development Group
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 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
Nationalities Alliance of Burma USA (NABUSA)
Natural Green Alliance
Network for Human Rights Documentation Burma (ND-Burma)