Civil society welcomes the UN General Assembly’s decision to reject the Myanmar military junta, urges the UN to cease all forms of cooperation that lend them legitimacy

Civil society welcomes the UN General Assembly’s decision to reject the Myanmar military junta, urges the UN to cease all forms of cooperation that lend them legitimacy

Dec 7, 2021 | DFF, Statements

Today, the UN General Assembly adopted the recommendations made by the Credentials Committee of the UN to defer the decision on who will represent Myanmar at the UN. The decision constitutes a clear rejection of the illegal Myanmar military junta’s application for credentials to the UN, leaving U Kyaw Moe Tun, the current Permanent Representative of Myanmar, to continue to represent the country at the world body.

The recommendation for deferral by the Credentials Committee comprised of nine UN Member States including the United States, China and Russia, is a huge blow to the murderous junta that have killed at least 1,303 people since the coup, including around 100 children, and arbitrarily arrested 10,681 people.  

Khin Ohmar, founder and Chairperson of Progressive Voice: “We welcome this decision by the UN General Assembly to reject the terrorist military junta and call on all UN agencies, funds and programs to cease all forms of cooperation that lend the junta any legitimacy. UN agencies must end its complicity in emboldening the junta by inviting them to meetings, conferences and other platforms that offers them the opportunity to create a façade of legitimacy.

International bodies, including the Human Rights Council, the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization, must now accept nominations made by U Kyaw Moe Tun and recognize the authority of Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the UN.”

Charles Santiago, chair of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), and a Malaysian Member of Parliament: “The UN General Assembly’s decision sends a strong message to ASEAN and other regional and international institutions that the junta must not be recognized as the legitimate representatives of Myanmar. Any engagement by ASEAN or any of its members with the military junta undermines its credibility and is an affront to the courageous and continuing calls made by the people of Myanmar to reject the junta.

As we saw in a graphic video shared on social media over the weekend of the military deliberately running down peaceful demonstrators, despite the risks, the Myanmar people are literally putting their lives on the line every day to reject the junta, and calling for their voices to be heard.”

Grant Shubin, Legal Director of Global Justice Center: “Today’s result is a vote of confidence for the rule of law in Myanmar—but much more remains to be done. The junta has committed crimes against humanity with its widespread and systematic attacks on the people of Myanmar. In addition to denying the junta the legitimacy it craves, the international community must also take positive steps to end the Tatmadaw’s impunity and ensure justice and accountability for Myanmar.”

On 10 September, 358 Myanmar and international civil society organizations called on the UN Member States to ensure that the current Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the UN, Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, retains his position as Myanmar’s representative to the UN. 

See the open letter to members of the UN General Assembly here: https://progressivevoicemyanmar.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/UNGA_Credentials_FINAL_ENG.pdf

UN must retain Myanmar Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun’s accreditation

UN must retain Myanmar Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun’s accreditation

Sep 13, 2021 | Statements

Civil society calls on UN to Retain Myanmar’s Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun’s accreditation to the UN, amid fears Myanmar people could be ‘robbed of their rightful voice’ by the military junta

UN Member States must ensure that the current Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations, Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, retains his position as Myanmar’s representative to the UN, 358 Myanmar and international civil society organizations said today in an open letter to members of the UN General Assembly.

On September 14, the UN’s Credentials Committee, comprised of nine UN Member States (including China, Russia and the United States), will meet to consider which of the competing submissions – Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun or the illegitimate military junta that has attempted a bloody coup since February – should be Myanmar’s representative at the UN. Since the attempted coup, the Ambassador has provided a crucial voice at the UN for the people of Myanmar and their legitimate government, the National Unity Government (NUG). Following its deliberations, the Credentials Committee will submit its recommendations to the UN General Assembly. 

Khin Ohmar, founder of Progressive Voice: “There is a real risk that complacency from UN member states could result in the Myanmar people being robbed of their rightful voice at the UN, or even in the military junta receiving official UN accreditation as representatives of the people they have murdered and tortured so mercilessly. We therefore need any UN member state that values humanity, peace and stability, and respects the will of the people, to reject – as the people of Myanmar categorically have – the military junta and its mass atrocities, and take a stand publicly in support of U Kyaw Moe Tun and the NUG.”

Since the February attempted coup, the military junta has killed 1,058, arrested 7,992, detained 6,343 (including 104 children), sentenced 118 people in absentia and 39 people to death in absentia, and has tortured and sexually assaulted countless more. Furthermore, the junta has been unable to establish government functions or take effective control over the territory of Myanmar. Instead of making attempt to control Covid-19, the junta has instead seized medical facilities, hoarded oxygen, persecuting healthcare professionals, and fired on crowds seeking assistance, resulting in an uncontrolled outbreak of the disease that jeopardises global efforts to control it.

Kasit Piromya, a Board Member of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) and former Foreign Minister of Thailand: “The junta is the very antithesis of the UN’s core values of peace, human rights, justice and social progress. Allowing it to sit at the UN would not only undermine any chance of seeing peace and democracy again in Myanmar, but would undermine the credibility of all UN efforts across the globe.”

Dr. Simon Adams, Executive Director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect: “Myanmar’s military is responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and continues to kill and arrest its own people for resisting the coup. The UN General Assembly voted in June to condemn the excessive and lethal violence utilized by Myanmar’s armed forces since 1 February 2021 and called upon the military to respect the will of the people. This denunciation sent a clear message from the international community that the actions taken by the junta are contrary to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. No country should recognize or support the Myanmar’s military junta.” 

Read the open letter in full here.

Note to editors

For more information, please contact:

Further information is available in this factsheet from Progressive Voice and ALTSEAN-Burma.

    Open Letter in Support of Continuing Recognition of Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun

    Open Letter in Support of Continuing Recognition of Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun

    Sep 13, 2021 | Open Letters

    Click here to download the pdf file.

    To Permanent Representatives of Member States of the UN General Assembly

    10 September 2021

    Open Letter in Support of Continuing Recognition of Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun as Myanmar’s Permanent Representative at the UN General Assembly

    Excellencies,

    We, the undersigned, representing a broad movement of 358 Myanmar and international civil society organizations, urge you to ensure that the current Permanent Representative (PR) of Myanmar to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, retains his position as Myanmar’s representative to the UN for the upcoming 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), scheduled to begin on 14 September 2021.

    Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun is the incumbent representative of Myanmar and he represented Myanmar throughout the 75th session of the UNGA after his credentials were accepted by the Credentials Committee in November 2020 and approved by the UNGA on 1 December (A/RES/75/19). He was appointed as Myanmar’s PR to the UN by the democratically elected government of Myanmar, which had held office since 2016. His credentials were renewed by the current duly elected government of Myanmar.

    The new government, which won in a free, fair and credible general election in November 2020, was due to be formed in February 2021 and take office in March. The general election, which was observed by accredited international election monitoring bodies including the Asian Network for Free Elections and the Carter Center, certified that the election reflected the will of the people of Myanmar. However, on 1 February 2021, the Myanmar military launched a coup, physically prevented the scheduled session of the new parliament and forcibly detained elected members of Parliaments.

    Since then, massive and broad anti-coup protests have continued throughout the country. The junta’s attempt to take control of Myanmar by force have been resisted by these ongoing protests, boycotts, strikes and coordinated civil disobedience movements by civil servants, private sector employees and civilians. Over 400,000 civil servants have been on strike against the junta since February. Ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), who have also opposed the coup, continue to exercise control over extensive territories in Myanmar’s borderlands.

    In its effort to assert control, the military has killed, arbitrarily detained, raped, tortured, and looted homes and villages. Since February, the junta has killed 1,058 people, including at least 75 children and arrested 7,992. The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar has stated that these heinous tactics designed to instill terror in the population amount to crimes under international law, including crimes against humanity. Despite the junta’s brutal campaign of terror and repression, the people continue to resist, and the coup has totally failed.

    On 26 February, Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, during an informal meeting of the UNGA, unequivocally denounced the 1 February attempted military coup calling on states not to recognize or legitimize the military junta. Since then, he has continued to represent Myanmar on behalf of the National Unity Government (NUG) formed on 16 April 2021 by elected members of parliament, representatives of various ethnic groups and civil society leaders. The NUG has established its cabinet with respective ministries and continues to provide valuable services to the people of Myanmar, including in handling the COVID-19 crisis and overseeing the provision of humanitarian aid.

    In June, the UNGA in its resolution on Myanmar (A/RES/75/287) condemned in the strongest terms “the excessive and lethal violence by the Myanmar armed forces since 1 February 2021.” It further called on the military to “respect the will of the people as freely expressed by the results of the general election of 8 November 2020,” and restore democracy under a fully inclusive civilian government that is representative of the will of the people of Myanmar. The resolution also expressed concern “at the persistent impunity for crimes committed by the Myanmar armed forces,” as the ongoing conflicts in ethnic areas, including in Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Rakhine, Shan and southern Chin states between EAOs and the Myanmar military have intensified since the coup, displacing over 230,000 people.

    Such a political expression of condemnation of the coup by UN Member States is significant. Over the past three decades, only three other UNGA resolutions have condemned a military coup: Haiti (1991), Burundi (1993), and Honduras (2009). The resolution passed with overwhelming support with 119 members in favor to 1 against (Belarus) and 36 abstentions. Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun as the representative, Myanmar voted in favor of the resolution. Since the attempted coup, the Ambassador has provided a crucial voice at the UN for Myanmar’s democratically-elected government and people.

    Notably, the presidential statement by the UN Security Council on 10 March 2021 also expressed deep concern regarding the situation in Myanmar and referred to those members of parliament arbitrarily detained by the junta as the “members of the Government.” These statements by the UNGA and the Security Council are a clear denunciation by the international community that the actions taken by the junta are contrary to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

    Therefore, we urge the Credentials Committee to recommend for the UNGA to accept the credentials of Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun for the 76th session of the UNGA and ensure he retains his seat as the representative of Myanmar. Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun is the appointee of the representatives of Myanmar, duly elected by the people. A recommendation that his credentials be accepted would be to respect the will of the people of Myanmar, expressed overwhelmingly during recent elections, and be consistent with the June 2021 UNGA resolution on Myanmar and statements by the Security Council.[1]

    We also urge the Credentials Committee to outrightly dismiss the proposed credentials of the representative of the illegitimate military junta. The military junta has no democratic legitimacy: it is unable to establish government functions, it does not have effective control over the territory of Myanmar, and it is a persistent perpetrator of international crimes. Any support for a junta-backed representative, would constitute a repudiation of the June 2021 UNGA resolution and principles of equality, human rights and fundamental freedoms set out in the UN Charter and will only further embolden the military that has terrorized the country since its attempted coup.

    Lastly, we would also like to address the possibility of Myanmar’s seat at the UNGA being left vacant with a deferral of the decision on accrediting a representative of Myanmar, or any other deal that would silence Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun. Myanmar’s participation in the UNGA is part of “important rights and privileges of membership.” Leaving an empty seat at the UN, or silencing the Ambassador, would mean that this right would be suspended due to the decision of the credentials process and would be contrary to the Purposes and Principles as set out in Article 1 and 2 of the Charter. In addition, it would dismiss the overwhelming outcome of Myanmar’s democratic elections that were held in 2020, and would lend weight to the junta’s violent and unlawful attempt to seize power.

    We therefore urge members of the UNGA to retain Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun’s accreditation as the Permanent Representative of Myanmar and call on your support in this matter.

    We hope for a favorable response to this appeal. Please accept assurances of our highest consideration.

    Sincerely,

    Signed by:

    358 Myanmar and international civil society organizations

    1. 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
    2. Action Committee for Democracy Development
    3. Activists group for Human Rights ‘BARAM’
    4. Advocates for Public Interest Law
    5. Airavati Organisation
    6. Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party, Philippines
    7. All Arakan Students and Youths Congress
    8. Alternative Solutions for Rural Communities (ASORCOM)
    9. ALTSEAN-Burma
    10. America Rohingya Justice Network
    11. American Baptist Churches USA
    12. Ananda Data
    13. Anti Dictatorship in Burma-DC Metropolitan Area
    14. Arakan Institute for Peace and Development
    15. Arakan Rohingya Union
    16. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
    17. ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
    18. Asia Center
    19. Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
    20. Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
    21. Asian Companions Against Brutality
    22. Asian Dignity Initiative
    23. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
    24. Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
    25. Association for Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP)
    26. Association of Women for Awareness & Motivation (AWAM)
    27. Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
    28. Auckland Kachin Community Inc.
    29. Auckland Zomi Community
    30. Aung Lan Phyu
    31. Australia Karen Organisation
    32. Backpack Health Workers Team
    33. Balaod Mindanaw
    34. Baptist World Alliance
    35. Better World
    36. Boat People SOS
    37. BOOM Womyn
    38. Boston Free Burma
    39. Bucheon St. Mary’s Hospital Branch of KHMU
    40. Buddhist Ecological Contents Institute
    41. Buddhist Solidarity for Reform
    42. Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP -Solidarity of Filipino Workers), Philippines
    43. Burma Action Ireland
    44. Burma Campaign UK
    45. Burma Human Rights Network
    46. Burma Medical Association
    47. Burma Monitor (Research and Monitoring)
    48. Burma Task Force
    49. Burmese American Millennials
    50. Burmese Democratic Forces
    51. Burmese Muslim Association
    52. Burmese Women’s Union
    53. Bytes for All
    54. Calgary Karen Community Association (CKCA)
    55. Campaign for a New Myanmar
    56. Carmelite Missionary
    57. Center for Freedom of Information
    58. Center for Military Human Rights Korea
    59. Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development, Chaing Mai University
    60. Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking (CYAN) – Philippines
    61. Central European Institute of Asian Studies
    62. CHANGJAK21
    63. Chin Community of Auckland
    64. Chin Community of USA-DC Area
    65. Chin Family Group
    66. Chin Leaders of Tomorrow (CLT)
    67. Christian Freedom International
    68. Christian Solidarity Worldwide
    69. Citizens Life & Environment Conference
    70. Civil Rights Defenders (CRD)
    71. Civil Society Forum for Peace (CSFoP)
    72. Climate Change Working Group
    73. CMCMC
    74. Coalition to Abolish Modern-day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA)
    75. Colors Rainbow
    76. Commission on JPIC, Korea Province, Society of Jesus
    77. Committee of Justice, Peace and Ecology of the Catholic Religious Men in Korea
    78. Community Organizations Network for Education & Training
    79. Community Resource Center (CRC)
    80. Community Resource Centre
    81. Critic CCC
    82. Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF), Thailand
    83. CRPH/NUG Supporters (Austria)
    84. DEEKU, the Karenni Community
    85. Democracy for Ethnic Minorities Organization
    86. Democracy for Myanmar – Working Group (NZ)
    87. Democracy, Peace and Women’s Organization – DPW
    88. Edmonton Karen Community Youth Organization
    89. ETOs Watch Coalition
    90. European Karen Network (EKN)
    91. Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
    92. Finland Karen Culture Association
    93. Food Security Working Group
    94. Fortify Rights
    95. ForumCiv
    96. Free Burma Action Bay/ USA/ Global
    97. Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
    98. Free Myanmar Campaign USA
    99. Freedom and Labor Action Group
    100. Freedom, Justice, Equality for Myanmar
    101. Friends Against Dictatorship (FAD)
    102. Future Light Center
    103. Future Thanlwin
    104. Ganghwa People’s Network (GHPN)
    105. Generation Wave
    106. German Solidarity with Myanmar Democracy
    107. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
    108. Global Justice Center
    109. Global Movement for Myanmar Democracy (GM4MD)
    110. Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict-Southeast Asia (GPPAC-SEA)
    111. Globe International Center
    112. Green Party Korea
    113. Green Peasant Institute
    114. Greendoor
    115. GZO Peace Institute – Philippines
    116. Hakha Thar Nubu
    117. Happy Class Meditation Community
    118. Human & Welfare Books
    119. Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF), Thailand
    120. Human Rights Foundation of Monland
    121. Hyungmyung Foundation
    122. HyunJang Academy
    123. In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND)
    124. INCHEON NGO NETWORK
    125. Incheon Regional Office of KHMU
    126. Incorporated Organization Shilcheon Bulgyo
    127. Info Birmanie
    128. Initiatives for International Dialogue
    129. Institute for Asian Democracy
    130. Institute of Korean Feminist Integral Studies for Faith
    131. Inter Pares
    132. International Campaign for the Rohingya
    133. International Christian Concern
    134. International Federation for Hurman Rights (FIDH)
    135. International Migrants Cultural Institute
    136. International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB)
    137. Inter-religious Climate and Ecology Network
    138. Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights
    139. JASS Southeast Asia
    140. Jeju Peace Human Rights Institute WHAT
    141. Jesuit Research Center for Advocacy and Solidarity
    142. Jesusalgi
    143. Joint Countermeasures Committee for Freedom of Expression and Press Repression
    144. JPIC Commission in The Association of Major Superiors of Women Religious in KOREA
    145. JPIC-Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill
    146. Justice for All
    147. Kachin Alliance
    148. Kachin National Organization USA
    149. Kachin Peace Network (KPN)
    150. Kachin Refugee Committee (KRC)
    151. Kachin State Women Network (KSWN)
    152. Kachin Women’s Association Thailand
    153. Kansas Karenni Community
    154. Karapatan Alliance Philippines
    155. Karen American Association of Wisconsin
    156. Karen Association of Huron, South Dakota
    157. Karen Community Association UK
    158. Karen Community in Norway (KCN)
    159. Karen Community of Canada (KCC)
    160. Karen Community of Czech Republic
    161. Karen Community of Finland
    162. Karen Community of Hamilton
    163. Karen Community of Iowa
    164. Karen Community of Ireland
    165. Karen Community of Israel
    166. Karen Community of Kansas City (KS & MO)
    167. Karen Community of Kitchener & Waterloo
    168. Karen Community of Leamington
    169. Karen Community of Lethbridge
    170. Karen Community of London
    171. Karen Community of Minnesota
    172. Karen Community of Ottawa
    173. Karen Community of Regina
    174. Karen Community of Saskatoon
    175. Karen Community of Thunderbay
    176. Karen Community of Toronto
    177. Karen Community of Windsor
    178. Karen Community of Winnipeg
    179. Karen Community Society of British Columbia (KCSBC)
    180. Karen Environmental and Social Action Network
    181. Karen Human Rights Group
    182. Karen Organization of America
    183. Karen Peace Support Network
    184. Karen Rivers Watch
    185. Karen Swedish Community (KSC)
    186. Karen Thai Group
    187. Karen Women’s Organization
    188. Karen Youth Networks
    189. Karen Youth of Norway
    190. Karen Youth of Toronto
    191. Karen Youth Organization
    192. Karenni American Association (KnA)
    193. Karenni Civil Society Network
    194. Karenni Community of Bowling Green (KY)
    195. Karenni Community of Des Moines (IA)
    196. Karenni Community of Georgia
    197. Karenni Community of Indianapolis
    198. Karenni Community of Massachusetts
    199. Karenni Community of Minnesota
    200. Karenni Community of Missouri
    201. Karenni Community of New York
    202. Karenni Community of North Carolina
    203. Karenni Community of Portland, OR
    204. Karenni Community of Taxes
    205. Karenni Community of Wisconsin
    206. Karenni Human Rights Group
    207. Karenni National Women’s Organization
    208. Karenni Society New Zealand
    209. Karenni Society of Minnesota (NE)
    210. Karenni-American Catholic Association
    211. Kaung Rwai
    212. Kayaw Women Association
    213. Keng Tung Youth
    214. KijamiiTable
    215. Korea Democracy Foundation
    216. Korea Institute for Religious Freedom
    217. Korea Karen Organization
    218. Korea Karen Youth Organization
    219. Korea Migrants Friendship Solidarity SHALOMHOUSE
    220. Korea Wetlands NGO Network (KWNN)
    221. Korean Civil Society in Solidarity with Rohingya
    222. Korean House for International Solidarity
    223. Korean Solidarity for Overseas Community Organization
    224. KPTU SEOUL
    225. Latsinu Women Agency
    226. Law and Society Trust, Sri Lanka
    227. Let’s Help Each Other
    228. Little Servants of the Holy Family (Uijeongbu Province)
    229. Los Angeles Rohingya Association
    230. Madang for Life and Peace
    231. Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN)
    232. Media Christianity
    233. Menrihei
    234. Metta Campaign Mandalay
    235. Migrants Trade Union
    236. MilkTea Alliance Philippines
    237. MINBYUN – Lawyers for a Democratic Society International Solidarity Committee
    238. Mindanao Peace Weavers (MPW), Philippines
    239. Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute Foundation, Inc.
    240. Muslim of Myanmar Multi-Ethnic Consultative Committee (MMMCC)
    241. Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP)
    242. Myanmar Action Group Denmark
    243. Myanmar Advocacy Coalition
    244. Myanmar Community Austria
    245. Myanmar Community in the Czech Republic
    246. Myanmar Cultural Research Society
    247. Myanmar Doctors For Human Rights Network
    248. Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand
    249. Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
    250. Myanmar Helping Citizens’ Group
    251. Myanmar Network in KOREA
    252. Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
    253. Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
    254. National Clergy Conference For Justice and Peace
    255. Nationalities Alliance of Burma
    256. NeT Organization
    257. Network for Advocacy Action and Women Network (Tanintharyi)
    258. Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma)
    259. Never Again Coalition
    260. New Bodhisattva Network
    261. New York City Burmese Community
    262. New Zealand Doctors for NUG
    263. New Zealand Karen Association
    264. New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
    265. No Business with Genocide
    266. Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
    267. OFM KOREA JPIC
    268. Olive Organization
    269. Oversea Karen Organization Japan
    270. Overseas Mon Association, New Zealand
    271. Pakokku Youth Development Council (PYDC)
    272. Pa-O Women’s Union
    273. Pa-O Youth Organization
    274. Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM – Party of the Laboring Masses), Philippines
    275. Partido Manggagawa (Labor Party-Philippines)
    276. Pax Christi Institute
    277. Peace Ground
    278. Peace Women Partners, Philippines
    279. Peace-Life Forum
    280. PEN Myanmar
    281. People, not profit
    282. People’s Empowerment Foundation (PEF) – Thailand
    283. People’s Initiative for Development Alternatives (PIDA)
    284. People’s Watch
    285. People’s Action Against Dictator Chun Doo-hwan
    286. People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD)
    287. Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)
    288. Pinagkaisang Galaw at Lakas ng Kababaihan (PIGLAS-KABABAIHAN), Philippines
    289. Poverty Elimination and Community Education (PEACE) Foundation
    290. Progressive 3.0
    291. Progressive Voice
    292. Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
    293. Refugees International
    294. Rights Beyond Border (RBB)
    295. Rock Island Karen Community
    296. Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
    297. Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
    298. Saferworld
    299. Sami Chin Women Organization
    300. Save and Care Organization for Ethnic Women at Border Areas
    301. Save Myanmar (New Zealand)
    302. SEA Junction
    303. sebasa
    304. Secondary School Branch in Goyang of Korea Teachers’ Union
    305. Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), Philippines
    306. Seongnam City Committee of the Youth Justice Party
    307. Seongnam YMCA
    308. Shan Community (New Zealand)
    309. Shan MATA
    310. Solidarity for Another World
    311. Southern Youth Development Organization
    312. Spirit in Education Movement (SEM)
    313. Spring Revolution Interfaith Network
    314. steppingstone
    315. Stop the War Coalition Philippines
    316. Students for Free Burma
    317. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
    318. Sungmisan School Post-secondary
    319. Support the Democracy Movement in Burma
    320. Supporters Group for Migrant Workers Movement
    321. Sustainability and Participation through Education and Lifelong Learning (SPELL), Philippines
    322. Swedish Burma Committee
    323. Swedish Foundation for Human Rights
    324. Swedish Rohingya Association
    325. Synergy – Social Harmony Organization
    326. Ta’ang Legal Aid
    327. Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
    328. Taunggyi Youth Center
    329. Thai Allied Committee with Desegregated Burma Foundation (TACDB)
    330. Thai Volunteer Service (TVS)
    331. The April 9 Unification & Peace Foundation
    332. The Burmese American Community Institute (BACI)
    333. The Burmese Rohingya Association of North America
    334. The Burmese Rohingya Community of Georgia
    335. The Declaration of Global Citizens
    336. The Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan
    337. The Labor Union of Jogye order
    338. The May 18 Memorial Foundation
    339. The Mekong Butterfly
    340. The Sound of Hope
    341. Think Centre
    342. Thint Myat Lo Thu Myar
    343. Timor-Leste Youth and Young Journalist Peace Culture Center
    344. S Advocacy Coalition for Myanmar (USACM)
    345. Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA
    346. Union For Civil Liberty (UCL), Thailand
    347. Union of Karenni State Youth
    348. Unitarian Universalist Association
    349. Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)
    350. United States Campaign for Burma
    351. Victorian Myanmar Youth (VMY)
    352. Vocation Office of Catholic Diocese of Daejeon, South Korea
    353. Women Advocacy Coalition – Myanmar
    354. Women’s League of Burma
    355. Women’s Peace Network
    356. Wonders International
    357. Youth Justice Party, Gyeonggi Province Party
    358. Youth of KimDae-jung Foundation

     

    [1] As stated in UNGA resolution (A/RES/396(v))) when there is a disputed claim to the government entitled to represent a Member State in the UN, the question “should be considered in light of the Purposes and Principles of the Charter.” For the reasons we have stated in this open letter, it is imperative that UNGA retains the Ambassador’s accreditation as the PR of Myanmar as it will ensure that human rights and fundamental freedoms prevail in Myanmar​​, in clear affirmation of the UN’s own principles and Charter.

    Joint Call for a Global Arms Embargo on Myanmar

    Joint Call for a Global Arms Embargo on Myanmar

    Feb 24, 2021 | DFF, Open Letters

    Click here for a Myanmar translation of this joint statement

    We, the undersigned organizations, call on the United Nations Security Council and UN member
    states to urgently institute a coordinated, global arms embargo on Myanmar in response to the
    February 1, 2021 military coup that has deprived the people of Myanmar of the right to
    democratically elect their government. Our concerns are heightened by ongoing violations of
    human rights and the security forces’ history of grave abuses against peaceful critics of military
    rule, as well as against the Rohingya and other ethnic minority groups.

    Under the commander-in-chief, Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the Myanmar military has detained
    the elected civilian leaders of the country, nullified the results of the November 2020 democratic
    elections, and installed a junta, the State Administration Council, under a manufactured “state of
    emergency.” Since February 1, the junta has increasingly used excessive and at times lethal force
    at demonstrations; threatened and arbitrarily detained activists, journalists, students, and civil
    servants; and imposed rolling internet shutdowns that put lives at risk.

    Days after the coup, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated, “We will do everything we
    can to mobilize all the key actors and international community to put enough pressure on
    Myanmar to make sure that this coup fails.” The UN special rapporteur on Myanmar has called
    for targeted UN sanctions on the military and an arms embargo, while the deputy high
    commissioner for human rights has voiced support for targeted UN sanctions on the coup
    leaders.

    In that spirit, we urge the Security Council to immediately impose a comprehensive arms
    embargo on Myanmar. Such a resolution should bar the direct and indirect supply, sale, or
    transfer of all weapons, munitions, and other military-related equipment, including dual-use
    goods such as vehicles and communications and surveillance equipment, as well as the provision
    of training, intelligence, and other military assistance. The embargo should be accompanied by
    robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

    Any sale or transfer of military-related equipment to Myanmar could provide the means to
    further repress the people of Myanmar in violation of international humanitarian and human
    rights law.

    Until the Council acts, individual UN member states should adopt measures at the national and
    regional levels to block sales and other transfers of weapons and materiel to Myanmar, with the
    goal of extending an arms embargo to as close to a global scale as possible.

    For decades, the Security Council’s response to crimes by the Myanmar security forces has been
    inadequate, emboldening the military to continue committing abuses without fear of serious
    consequences. The current crisis demands a change in course.

    On February 4, the Security Council spoke with a single voice to demand the release of all those
    arbitrarily detained and the protection of the country’s democratic institutions. Council members
    should use that newfound consensus to take swift and substantive action. An arms embargo would be the centerpiece of a global effort to shield the people of Myanmar from a return to abusive and autocratic rule.

    The time to act is now.

    Signatories

    1. Access Now
    2. Advocacy Forum-Nepal
    3. AFL-CIO
    4. All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress
    5. Arakan Information Center
    6. Arakan Rivers Network
    7. Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights
    8. ARTICLE 19
    9. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
    10. Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
    11. Asia Democracy Network
    12. Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
    13. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
    14. Asian Human Rights Commission
    15. Asian Migrant Centre
    16. Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)
    17. Asian Resource Foundation
    18. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
    19. Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM)
    20. Australian Centre for International Justice
    21. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights
    22. BALAOD Mindanaw
    23. Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan
    24. Brotherhood For Democracy (BFD)
    25. Burma Campaign UK
    26. Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
    27. Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan
    28. Burmese Rohingya Community in Australia
    29. Bytes For All
    30. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
    31. Cambodian Food And Service Workers Federation (CFSWF)
    32. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
    33. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
    34. Canadian Rohingya Development Initiative
    35. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
    36. Center for Peace Education, Miriam College
    37. Center for Social Integrity
    38. Centre for Human Rights and Development
    39. Centre for Peace and Justice, Brac University
    40. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
    41. Climate Change Working Group-Myanmar
    42. Colorful Girls
    43. Community Resource Centre Foundation (CRC)
    44. Cross Cultural Foundation
    45. CSW
    46. Dawei Pro Bono Lawyer Network
    47. Democracy, Peace and Women Organization
    48. DHEWA (Development for Health, Education, Work, and Awareness) Welfare Society
    49. Equality Myanmar
    50. Equitable Cambodia
    51. European Rohingya Council
    52. Federal Association of Vietnamese Refugees in the Federal Republic of Germany
    53. Fortify Rights
    54. Free Rohingya Coalition
    55. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
    56. Global Justice Center
    57. Global Witness
    58. Htoi Gender and Development Foundation
    59. Human Rights First
    60. Human Rights Foundation of Monland
    61. Human Rights Law Centre
    62. Human Rights Office-Sri Lanka
    63. Human Rights Watch
    64. Human Rights Without Frontiers
    65. Info Birmanie
    66. Innovation for Change Network
    67. Institute for Asian Democracy
    68. Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion
    69. International Campaign for the Rohingya
    70. International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS), Asia Pacific
    71. International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID)
    72. International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)
    73. Jewish Alliance of Concern Over Burma
    74. Jubilee Australia
    75. Justice for All/Burma Task Force
    76. Justice for Myanmar
    77. Kachin State Women’s Network
    78. Karapatan Alliance Philippines
    79. Karen Human Rights Group
    80. KontraS Aceh
    81. Loka Ahlinn Social Development Organization
    82. Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN)
    83. MAP Foundation
    84. Medical Association for Prevention of War (Australia)
    85. Mekong Migration Network
    86. Mennonite Central Committee
    87. MeSheWe
    88. Mother Nature Cambodia
    89. Myanmar Human Rights Alliances Network (MHRAN)
    90. National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal
    91. Never Again Coalition
    92. New School for Democracy
    93. No Business With Genocide
    94. Nonviolence International
    95. Odhikar
    96. Olof Palme International Center
    97. OutRight Action International
    98. PAX
    99. Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand
    100. Pax Christi Australia
    101. Pax Christi International
    102. Pax Christi Korea
    103. Pax Christi Philippines
    104. People’s Empowerment Foundation
    105. People’s Watch
    106. Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)
    107. Progressive Voice
    108. Prosecute; don’t perpetrate
    109. Public Association “Dignity”
    110. Pusat KOMAS
    111. Refugees International
    112. Restless Beings
    113. Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
    114. Rohingya Association of Canada
    115. Rohingya Human Rights Initiative
    116. Rohingya Today
    117. Rohingya Women Education Initiative
    118. Rohingya Youth for Legal Action
    119. Smile Myanmar
    120. Swedish Burma Committee
    121. Taiwan Association for Human Rights
    122. Taiwan Forever Association (台灣永社)
    123. Tampadipa Institute
    124. The Arakan Project
    125. The May 18 Memorial Foundation
    126. The PLAN: Public Legal Aid Network
    127. The Swedish Rohingya Association
    128. Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
    129. US Campaign for Burma
    130. Viet Tan
    131. Vietnamese Women for Human Rights
    132. Voice of Rohingya
    133. Win Without War
    134. World Federalist Movement/Institute for Global Policy
    135. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
    136. YMCA Mandalay
    137. Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP)
    Philippines: Regional MPs urge UN to establish independent mechanism to investigate rights violations

    Philippines: Regional MPs urge UN to establish independent mechanism to investigate rights violations

    Nov 9, 2020 | DFF, Statements

    JAKARTA – Southeast Asian lawmakers today called upon the UN Human Rights Council to act on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ findings by establishing an international independent investigation mechanism into the human rights violations committed in the Philippines since 2015.

    “As the institution responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights globally, the UN Human Rights Council must ensure that the appalling human rights abuses taking place in the Philippines do not go unpunished. Any other decision would not only undermine the Council’s legitimacy but also send an emboldening message to human rights abusers worldwide,” said Mu Sochua, APHR Board Member and former member of parliament (MP) in Cambodia. 

    Earlier this month, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), released a hard-hitting report, detailing persistent impunity for human rights violations occurring in the Philippines. The High Commissioner is expected to present her findings to the Human Rights Council on 30 June.

    In addition to documenting the widespread and systematic killing of thousands of alleged drug suspects, the report also noted that the Philippine authorities’ oppressive response in relation to national security has seen the acute shrinking of civic space, especially for human rights organisations, lawmakers, trade unionists, religious communities, and the media. In particular, several rights activists who were “red-tagged” or labelled as terrorists were subsequently killed and their murders remain unresolved. 

    In response to the report, the Philippine government said it “firmly rejects” the findings.  

    “The Philippines government’s rejection of the UN findings is nothing but confirmation that the impunity described will persist. The government’s recent use of the COVID-19 pandemic to intensify its crackdown on dissent and abuse human rights also leaves no hope that it will change course. That is why the Council must step-up. If they don’t, the number of victims of human rights abuses in the Philippines will only continue to rise,” added Sochua.