IPAM Archives - ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights

Hundreds of global MPs call for immediate release of Myanmar colleagues, democracy to be restored

Apr 27, 2021 | IPAM, Statements

Almost 300 sitting parliamentarians from around the world have signed a statement calling for the immediate and unconditional release of their colleagues in Myanmar, as well as all those arbitrarily detained since the February 1 military coup, and for democracy and the rule of law to be upheld in the country.

As an indication of the global level of concern about developments in Myanmar, the calls came from current lawmakers from 28 countries covering all five continents, including the United States and Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Of the thousands arrested in recent months in Myanmar, at least 60 are fellow parliamentarians, including the State Counsellor, President and Vice President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Chief Ministers, and Union and regional-level Members of Parliament (MPs).

“As well as being horrified by the abhorrent brutality of the Myanmar military, we are also deeply troubled about the welfare of our colleagues in the country, who have been arrested merely for being elected by the people to be their representatives in parliament,” said Bruce Stanton, Member of the Parliament of Canada.

The calls came as part of an initiative driven by the International Parliamentarians Alliance for Myanmar (IPAM), a global network of lawmakers established in March 2021 to advance human rights and democracy in Myanmar.

“Parliamentarians are the backbone of a democracy, and as a global network of MPs we call for their immediate and unconditional release – and all those arrested since the coup – and for the deafening voice of the Myanmar people to be heard – that is, for democracy to be restored,” said MP Renate Künast, from the German Bundestag.

The lawmakers also called on the international community, which includes their respective governments, not to lend legitimacy to the brutal military regime in Myanmar, and instead establish at the earliest a comprehensive response to the crisis in Myanmar that ensures the military junta immediately ends the use of violence against peaceful protesters and abides by the democratic will of the Myanmar people and the rule of law.

International MPs call for economic disengagement from Myanmar military

Apr 21, 2021 | IPAM, Statements

A global network of parliamentarians has called for a coordinated international regime of targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against senior officials of the Myanmar military, and all military-owned companies and their subsidiaries, to help support the courageous people of Myanmar in their struggle for democracy.

The lawmakers called for governments to form a united global response that ensures that smart and targeted sanctions are placed on the junta and its business interests, while having minimal impact on the Myanmar people. The calls came from members of the International Parliamentarians Alliance for Myanmar (IPAM), an international group of members of parliament (MPs) established in March 2021 working for the advancement of democracy and human rights in the country.

Myanmar’s military, known as the Tatmadaw, has substantial economic interests, most notably through its two major conglomerates, Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC). In its report published in 2019, the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar (FFM) identified more than 130 businesses linked to the MEHL and MEC, in businesses ranging from construction, to gem extraction, manufacturing, tourism, and banking. The FFM said it was certain it hadn’t identified all of the military’s business interests.

Although the military receives some of its funds from the state budget, its operations are heavily supported by its business interests. A report by Amnesty International in 2020 revealed that between 1990 and 2011, MEHL paid an estimated US$16 billion in dividends to military units.

The revenue the military’s businesses generate strengthens the Tatmadaw’s autonomy from elected civilian oversight and supports its military operations. In a report in March 2021 to the Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said that the Myanmar security forces’ recent “coordinated campaign against the civilian population … is likely meeting the legal threshold for crimes against humanity.”

These sanctions also meet the demands of the Myanmar people, with members of the Civil Disobedience Movement initiating boycotts of military-owned businesses, and calling to stop cash flows to the junta. These courageous actions must be supported by efforts from the international community, IPAM said.

Some encouraging steps have been taken. Several international companies, have announced plans to terminate their joint-ventures with MEHL. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom and the United States have adopted sanctions against MEHL and MEC.

Yet more action must be taken by all in the international community to support the Myanmar people’s clear demand for democracy, IPAM said. Therefore, we urge the international community to:

Establish a coordinated international regime of targeted financial sanctions against both senior junta leaders and their associates, as well as their sources of funding, including military-owned enterprises, their subsidiaries, and the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, which is now controlled by the military junta and represents the single largest source of revenue to the State;
Call on businesses to suspend all revenues and royalties payment to the Myanmar military and its enterprises, and to review their business activities in and with Myanmar and ensure that they do not directly or indirectly collaborate with military run entities or interests; and
Build a global coalition of countries imposing an arms and security equipment embargo on the Myanmar military, including dual-use technology.
Increase support for civil society groups in Myanmar, especially those providing support to marginalized or vulnerable groups, human rights defenders, and independent journalists.

Global MPs form International Parliamentarians Alliance for Myanmar

Mar 25, 2021 | DFF, IPAM, Statements

JAKARTA – Lawmakers from across the world have come together to form the International Parliamentarians Alliance for Myanmar (IPAM). The Alliance’s first meeting included 24 members of parliament (MPs) from 12 countries, spanning from Canada, through Europe, Pakistan, Thailand, Japan and all the way to Australia and New Zealand.

The MPs committed to join forces and use their position inside and outside of parliament to support fellow lawmakers from Myanmar, including members of the Committee Representing the Union Parliament (CRPH), to promote democracy and human rights for all in Myanmar, and ensure accountability for international crimes.

“The people of Myanmar need support now, as bullets are being fired, prisons filled, and lives stolen by a ruthless military. As parliamentarians it was evident to us that we needed to come together and form a united front against the Myanmar army’s unrelenting attack on democracy and human rights,” said Heidi Hautala, Member of the European Parliament.

“Our message is clear, we as elected representatives will use our voice to support the people of Myanmar in their quest for democracy,” said Jamie Parker, Member of the New South Wales Parliament of Australia. “Working collectively will strengthen our respective actions, and present the Myanmar military junta and the international community with unified calls and a clear path forward.”

The initial meeting of the Alliance was convened at the initiative of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), with a view to connecting lawmakers with Myanmar civil society and MPs, to provide a forum for developing joint international and regional strategies, and to serve as a consistent public voice for democracy and human rights for all in Myanmar.

“Our first action will focus on supporting Myanmar MPs currently being detained or forced into hiding when their only crime has been to be elected by the people of Myanmar to serve in Parliament,” said Charles Santiago, Member of Parliament of Malaysia and Chair of APHR. “It is our duty to stand with our colleagues when they face life threatening risks and when the institution of Parliament is being attacked.”

Members of the Alliance agreed to help gather signatures of parliamentarians around the world for a statement calling for the immediate release of their Myanmar colleagues, and to introduce in their respective parliaments a resolution or motion condemning the coup.

International lawmakers call for the immediate and unconditional release of their Myanmar colleagues, and for democracy to be upheld

Mar 22, 2021 | DFF, IPAM, Statements

International lawmakers call for the immediate and unconditional release of their Myanmar colleagues, and for democracy to be upheld

We, the undersigned parliamentarians from across the world express our solidarity with the elected representatives of Myanmar’s Parliament, call for the immediate and unconditional release of our colleagues, as well as all those arbitrarily detained since the February 1 coup, and for democracy and the rule of law to be upheld in Myanmar.

On 1 February, the day Myanmar’s new parliament was scheduled to open, the military junta staged a coup and grabbed all legislative, executive, and judicial powers. Since then, it has unleashed a campaign of terror and violence against the Myanmar people as part of efforts to crack down on peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations that have swept the country.

At least 751 people have been killed, and almost 4,500 arrested since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

At least 60 of those detained are fellow elected parliamentarians including the State Counsellor, President and Vice President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Chief Ministers, and Union and regional-level Members of Parliament.

Most have not been seen for almost two months as they are detained in unknown locations, without charge or access to their lawyers, increasing risks of torture and ill-treatment. Some are detained in military barracks, such as tactical command centers.

The military junta has also issued arrest warrants against members of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) who, days after the coup, took an oath pledging to continue carrying out their mandate as representatives of the people.

Their only crime is to have been elected by the people of Myanmar to serve in Parliament. As global parliamentarians, we therefore support our colleagues’ efforts to protect the institution of the Parliament and to fulfill the mandates entrusted to them by the people in the November 2020 election.

Parliaments are the cornerstone of democracy and essential to attaining peace, development and protecting human rights. The duly elected Members of Parliament of Myanmar must be reinstated and Parliament be convened as soon as possible to allow them to conduct their mandate freely and without fear of reprisal.

We urge the international community and our respective governments to not lend recognition or legitimacy to the brutal Myanmar military regime and instead support us in our efforts, by establishing a comprehensive response to the crisis in Myanmar that ensures its military junta:

Immediately ends the use of violence against peaceful protesters and respects the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly;
Abides by the democratic will of the Myanmar people and the rule of law;
Immediately and unconditionally releases all those arbitrarily detained; and
Allows Parliament to resume and elected MPs to fulfil their mandate without impediment.

Please see below a list of current MPs around the world who have signed onto the statement: