Open letter to ASEAN Defence Ministers

To:

H.E. General Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Cambodia
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulahibni Al-Marhum, Minister of Defense, Brunei Darussalam
H.E. Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Defence, Indoensia
H.E. General Chansamone Chanyalath, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Lao PDR
The Honerable Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein, Senior Minister of Defence, Malaysia
H.E. Delfin N. Lorenzana, Secretary of National Defense, Philippines
H.E. Dr. Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence, Singapore
H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Thailand
H.E. General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defence, Viet Nam

15 June 2022

Re: Myanmar junta participation in ADMM

Your Excellencies,

We, the undersigned 677 Myanmar, regional and international civil society organisations appeal to you not to extend an invitation to the Myanmar military junta’s Minister of Defence at the upcoming ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM).

The Myanmar military junta’s acts fully meet the definition of terror under international and national law, and is responsible for ongoing violations of international human rights and humanitarian law following the military’s illegal coup attempt. Since the military’s illegal coup attempt, almost 700,000 people have been forcibly displaced as the junta wages a terror campaign against the Myanmar people. In the face of mass public resistance, the junta has murdered more than 1,900 people, arbitrarily arrested over 14,000 more, committed widespread torture, indiscriminate airstrikes and shelling, burnt villages and looted public property.

In the upcoming 16th ADMM, scheduled for June 22, we understand that the Junta defense minister General Mya Tun Oo will be representing Myanmar. General Mya Tun Oo plays a leading role in the management of the military, which is responsible for committing ongoing atrocity crimes with total impunity. Mya Tun Oo’s direct responsibility for international law violations have been recognised by the USA, UK, EU, Canada and New Zealand, which sanctioned him. In its designation, the UK stated that Mya Tun Oo has “command responsibility for these violations and can therefore be held responsible for these actions.” Mya Tun Oo is also a member of the State Administration Council (SAC). The EU recognised that “as member of the SAC, General Mya Tun Oo has been directly involved in and responsible for decision making concerning state functions and is therefore responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law”. Mya Tun Oo should be held accountable for his role in the military’s attempted coup and the junta’s atrocity crimes, and not rewarded through participation in ADMM.

We welcome ASEAN’s exclusion of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing from the 2021 ASEAN Summit, and the exclusion of the junta foreign minister Wunna Maung Lwin from the 2022 Foreign Ministers’ Retreat. However, we note with concern that ADMM has invited the junta to participate in meetings, including at the ministerial level since its illegal coup attempt, which is inconsistent with decisions made by ASEAN to not invite General Min Aung Hlaing and Wunna Maung Lwin. ADMM’s engagement with the junta, which has included military exercises, may likely amount to the aiding and abetting of the junta’s war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It is imperative that ASEAN does not award legitimacy to the Myanmar military junta, upholds its own charter and respects international human rights and humanitarian law by excluding the junta from ADMM. In allowing the junta to participate in ADMM, ASEAN is further risking complicity in the junta’s atrocity crimes by providing support and legitimacy to the military and emboldening a military that is waging a nationwide campaign of terror.

We appeal to you as ASEAN defence ministers to disinvite Mya Tun Oo from the 16th ADMM and all future meetings. Engage with the National Unity Government as the legitimate government of Myanmar, and work to resolve the crisis in Myanmar.

For any further inquiries, please contact:

Khin Ohmar, Progressive Voice, [email protected]
Debbie Stothard, ALTSEAN-Burma, [email protected]
Salai Za Uk Ling, Chin Human Rights Organization, [email protected]

List of Signatories

List of signatories below include the following 299 Myanmar, regional and international organisations and 378 Myanmar civil society organisations that have chosen not to disclose their names.

Signed by: 

1. “Do” farmer Organization
2. 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
3. 8888 New Generation (Mohnyin)
4. Action Against Myanmar Military Coup (Sydney)
5. Action Committee for Democracy Development
6. Active Youths (Kalaymyo)
7. Ah Nah podcast- Conversation with Myanmar
8. Ah. La. Ka (12) Hta Khwe, Primary Education Student Union
9. All Arakan Students and Youths’ Congress
10. All Burma Democratic Face in New Zealand
11. All Burma Student Democratic Front – Australia Branch
12. All Religions Strike Column
13. All Young Burmese League (AYBL)
14. Alliance for Free Burma Solidarity
15. Alternative Solutions for Rural Communities (ASORCOM)
16. ALTSEAN-Burma
17. Anti Dictatorship in Burma DC Metropolitan Area
18. Anti-Myanmar Dictatorship Movement
19. Anti-Myanmar Military Dictatorship Network (AMMDN)
20. Arakan CSO Network
21. Arakan Humanitarian Coordination Team- AHCT
22. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)
23. Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
24. Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition
25. Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD) Philippines
26. Asian Cultural Forum on Development Foundation (ACFOD) Thailand
27. Asian Dignity Initiative
28. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
29. Association for Advancement of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Vietnam (AAFORB-VN)
30. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
31. Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
32. Auckland Kachin Community NZ
33. Auckland Zomi Community
34. Aung Myay Thar Zan Education Schools Strike Column
35. Aung Pin Lae Main Strike Column
36. Australia Burma Friendship Association, Northern Territory
37. Australia Karen Organization WA Inc.
38. Australia Myanmar Doctors, Nurses and Friends
39. Australia Myanmar Youth Alliance (AMYA)
40. Australian Burmese Muslim Organisation
41. Australian Chin Community (Eastern Melbourne Inc)
42. Australian Karen Organisation (AKO)
43. Australian Karen Organisation Inc
44. Back Pack Health Workers Team
45. Bamar Community Tasmania
46. BCC (စစ်ကိုင်း)
47. Blood Money Campaign
48. Buddhist Solidarity Association
49. Burma Action Ireland
50. Burma Campaign UK
51. Burma Human Rights Network
52. Burma Lawyers’ Council (BLC)
53. Burma Medical Association
54. Burma Soumalaiset (Finland)
55. Burmese Community – South Australia
56. Burmese Community Development Collaboration (BCDC)
57. Burmese Community Group (Manawatu, NZ)
58. Burmese Community Support Group (BCSG)
59. Burmese Friendship Association
60. Burmese Medical Association Australia (BMAA)
61. Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK
62. Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
63. Burmese Women’s Union
64. Cambodian Americans and Friends for Democracy and Human Rights Advocate
65. Campaign for a New Myanmar
66. Canberra Karen Association
67. CDM Support Team Mandalay (CSTM)
68. Chan Mya Thar Si Township People Strike Column
69. Chin Community – South Australia
70. Chin Community of Auckland
71. Chin Community of Western Australia Inc.
72. Chin Community Tasmania
73. Chin Human Rights Organization
74. Chin MATA Working Group
75. Chin Resources Center
76. Chin Youth Organization (Matupi)
77. Citizen of Burma Award – New Zealand
78. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
79. Committee Representing Mandalay Region Hluttaw
80. Cooperative University Student Strike Column
81. CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
82. CRPH Funding Ireland
83. CRPH Support Group, Norway
84. CRPH, NUG Support Team Germany – Deutschland
85. CRPH/NUG support group Australia
86. Dawei Development Association
87. Dawei Probono Lawyer Network
88. Democracy for Myanmar – Working Group (NZ)
89. Democracy, Peace and Women’s Organization
90. Democratic Youth Council
91. Doh Atu – Ensemble pour le Myanmar
92. Dragon Dawn
93. Education and health care for Myanmar-Thailand Association
94. Education Family (Anti – Fascists Education Strike Columns Coordination Committee)
95. Educational Initiatives Myanmar
96. Equality Myanmar
97. Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee
98. Falam Community – South Australia
99. Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
100. Foundation of Khmer Samaki
101. Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
102. Free Expression Myanmar (FEM)
103. Free Rohingya Coalition
104. Future Light Center
105. Future Thanlwin
106. General Strike Committee of Nationalities – GSCN
107. Generation Wave
108. Generations (မျိုးဆက်)
109. GenY For Revolution Japan
110. German Solidarity with Myanmar Democracy e.V.
111. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution
112. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution – Japan
113. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution – Korea
114. Golden Heart Organization
115. Grass-root People
116. Human Rights Educators’ Network
117. Human Rights Foundation of Monland
118. In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND) Philippines
119. India For Myanmar
120. Industrial Training Centre (ITC) Family Sydney
121. Info Birmanie
122. Initiatives for International Dialogue
123. Institute for Asian Democracy
124. Inter Pares
125. Interfaith Youth Coalition on Aids in Myanmar (IYCA-Myanmar)
126. International Campaign for the Rohingya
127. International Karen Organisation
128. JASS Southeast Asia
129. Joint Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (JACDB)
130. Justice 4 Myanmar – Hope & Development
131. Justice Movement for Community-Innlay
132. Justice For Myanmar
133. Kachin Association Australia
134. Kachin Association of Australia WA Inc.
135. Kachin Human Rights Watch
136. Kachin State Women Network
137. Kachin Women’s Association Thailand
138. Kachin Women’s Union
139. Kadu Youth Development Association (KYDA)
140. Kalyarna Metta Association (Khin U)
141. Kanbung Youth (Matupi)
142. Kanpetlet Land Development Organization
143. Karen Community – South Australia
144. Karen Human Rights Group
145. Karen Peace Support Network
146. Karen Swedish Community (KSC)
147. Karen Women’s Organization
148. Karenni Community of Western Australia Inc.
149. Karenni Federation of Australia
150. Karenni Human Rights Group
151. Karenni Society New Zealand
152. Kayan Internally Displacement Supervising Committee (KIDSC)
153. Kayan Women’s Organization
154. Kayin Community Tasmania
155. Keng Tung Youth
156. Khanthar Farmers Network
157. Khumzup Local Development Committee
158. Kurawal Foundation
159. Kyauktada Strike Committee
160. LA COMMUNAUTÉ BIRMANE DE FRANCE
161. LGBTIQ Strike of Mandalay
162. Maha Aung Myay Township People Collective Strike Column
163. Mandalar University Student Strike  Column
164. Mandalay Alliance Strike Collective Column
165. Mandalay Based People Strike Column
166. Mandalay Civil Society Organizations
167. Mandalay Engineer Group
168. Mandalay Engineer United Force
169. Mandalay University Student Alumni Union
170. Mandalay Wholesale Strike Column
171. Mandalay Youth Association
172. Mandalay Youth Strike Column
173. MATA Sagaing Region
174. Matu Chin Community – South Australia
175. Matu Forum Committee
176. Matu Women Association
177. Medical Family – Mandalay
178. Metta Campaign Mandalay
179. MIIT Student Strike Column
180. MilkTeaAlliance Calendar
181. MilkTeaAlliance Galleries
182. Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute Foundation, Inc. (MPI)
183. Mindat Chin Community NSW
184. Mindat Community – South Australia
185. Mindat Emergency Response Team (MERT)
186. Mizo Community – South Australia
187. Mon Families Group
188. Mon National Council (MNC)
189. Mung Chying Rawt Jat (MRJ)
190. Muslim Youth Network
191. Muslim Youth Union
192. Mya Taung Strike Column
193. Myanmar Accountability Project
194. Myanmar Action Group Denmark
195. Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability
196. Myanmar Buddhist Community of South Australia
197. Myanmar Community Coffs Harbour (MCC)
198. Myanmar Cultural Research Society (MCRS)
199. Myanmar Democracy and Peace Committee (Australia)
200. Myanmar Democratic Movement (MDM)
201. Myanmar Diaspora Group Finland
202. Myanmar Engineering Association of Australia (MEAA)
203. Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand
204. Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
205. Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
206. Myanmar People from Ireland
207. Myanmar People Residing in Canberra
208. Myanmar Professionals Association Australia (MPAA)
209. Myanmar Railway, Region (3) CDM Strike Column
210. Myanmar Students’ Association Australia (MSAA)
211. Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
212. Netherlands Myanmar Solidarity Platform
213. Network for Advocacy Action
214. Network for Human Rights Documentation Burma (ND-Burma)
215. New Zealand Doctors for NUG
216. New Zealand Karen Association
217. New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
218. NLD Solidarity Association (Australia)
219. No 7 State High School Alumni Strike Column
220. No Business With Genocide
221. Northern Spectrum Youth Association
222. NSW Karenni (Kayah) Communities
223. OCTOPUS (Youth Organization)
224. Open Development Foundation
225. Overseas Mon Association, New Zealand
226. Pan Pa Wash People Strike Column
227. Patriotic War Vetrans of Burma (PWVB)
228. Peace and Culture Foundation
229. People’s Hope Spring Revolution
230. Phayagye Peace Strike Column
231. Private Pre-school Teachers Association
232. Progressive Voice
233. Pusat Komas
234. Pyi Gyi Ta Gon Strike
235. Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
236. Queensland Kachin Community (QKC)
237. Queensland Myanmar Youth Collective (QMYC
238. Queensland Rohingya Community
239. Rohingya Action Ireland
240. Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
241. Sangha Samaga Strike Column
242. Save and Care Organization for Women at Border Areas
243. SAVE MYANMAR – USA
244. Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
245. Sein Pan Strike Column
246. Shan Community (New Zealand)
247. Shan MATA
248. Shan Women Development Network
249. Shape-Sea
250. Shwe Youth Democratic Alliance (SYDA)
251. Shwechinthae Farmers Network
252. Sisters 2 Sisters
253. Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
254. Social Garden
255. Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
256. Southern Youth Development Organization
257. Strike Column of Representatives of Arbitrarily Arrested People
258. Strike Column of Teachers from Universities and Degree Colleges of Mandalay
259. Students & Youth Congress of Burma (SYCB)
260. Support for Myanmar
261. Swedish Burma Committee
262. Swedish Foundation for Human Rights
263. Sydney Friends for Myanmar Unity
264. Ta’ang Women’s Organization
265. Taekwando Sport Association
266. Tanintharyi MATA
267. Tanintharyi Nationalities Congress
268. Tanintharyi People’s Voice
269. Tanintharyi Women’s Network
270. Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB)
271. Thapaynyo News Letter
272. The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS)
273. The Institution of Professional Engineers Myanmar (IPEM)
274. Together Thanlyin
275. Twitter Team for Revolution
276. U.S. Campaign for Burma
277. Uakthon Local Social Development Organization
278. United Myanmar Community of South Australia
279. Victorian Burmese Care Community (VBCC)
280. Victorian Myanmar Youth (VMY)
281. Way Way Nay
282. We Pledge CDM (Australia)
283. Western Australia Myanmar Community (WAMC)
284. Western Australia Myanmar Democratic Network (WAMDN)
285. Winemaw Civil Society Network
286. Winemaw Lisu Development Association
287. Women Activists Myanmar (WAM)
288. Women Advocacy Coalition-Myanmar
289. Women’s League of Burma
290. Women’s Peace Network
291. Zo Community – South Australia
292. Zomi Association Australia Inc.
293. Zomi Community – South Australia
294. Zomi Community Queensland
295. ခုနစ်စင်ကြယ်အဖွဲ့
296. ဒို့မြေကွန်ရက် (LIOH)
297. ဒေါင်းစစ်သည်
298. ပွင့်ဖြူလယ်ယာမြေကွန်ရက်
299. ပဲခူး MATA