Follow up response on the letter to Min Aung Hlaing ahead of the UN ‘Transforming Education’ Summit in New York
16 August 2022
To:
Amnesty International
Avaaz
Campaña Latinoamericana por el Derecho a la Educación
Defense for Children International
Global Campaign for Education
Human Rights Watch
KidsRights
Malala Fund
Plan International
Save the Children
World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP)
World Vision International
Re: Follow up response on the letter to Min Aung Hlaing ahead of the UN ‘Transforming Education’ Summit in New York
We the undersigned remain concerned about the recent letter in which your organizations erroneously addressed Min Aung Hlaing as the “Prime Minister” of Myanmar, and would like to follow up on the subsequent response from a number of agencies. Our organizations strongly urge you to take key actions outlined in the joint letter issued by 386 Civil Society Organizations, in which we called on our INGO colleagues to submit the letter ahead of the UN Transforming Education Summit to the representatives of the National Unity Government.
It is deeply concerning that the letter not only referred to Min Aung Hlaing and other criminal members of the military with the due respect and official address reserved for heads of state, but that such a letter was not first addressed to the National Unity Government of Myanmar. The National Unity Government remains the legitimate democratic representative of Myanmar, working on the side of the people of Myanmar. This incident has given ample ammunition for the military and its supporters to delegitimize the crucial work of Civil Society Organizations working to support and advance the rights of the Myanmar people. Further action must be taken.
We believe the apology given for this administrative error is made in good faith, but the question still remains as to why the National Unity Government was not the default recipient of such a letter. We request that the letter for the ‘Transforming Education’ Summit be extended to representatives of the National Unity Government forthwith.
We remain cognizant of this matter and look forward to your swift response.
Signed by:
- Khin Ohmar, Progressive Voice, [email protected]
- Naw Htoo Htoo, Karen Human Rights Group, [email protected]
- Kyaw Win, Burma Human Rights Network, [email protected]
- Hannah Russell, Myanmar Action Group Denmark, [email protected]
