COVID-19  ·  Joint Statements & Endorsements

Memorandum to the Myanmar Embassy in Malaysia on the escalating violence in Myanmar

March 31, 2021

Malaysian civil society organisations and Myanmar refugees, asylum seekers in Malaysia view with alarm the escalating violence perpetrated by the military junta against non-violent, peaceful protesters throughout Myanmar. We condemn the illegal overthrow of the civilian government by the military government in Myanmar, and we note that this unlawful coup d’état falls foul of the 2008 military-drafted constitution.

We are greatly concerned that the one-year state of emergency declared by the Myanmar military on 1 February pursuant to Article 417 of the Constitution has become a death-warrant for thousands of peaceful protestors in Myanmar. At this moment, millions around the country have been participating in peaceful, non-violent protests and the civil servants are also participating voluntarily at the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) that cuts across ethnics, religious, political, and economic lines, many of these protests are led by the youth, resisting the authoritarian rule by the military.

We condemn that the junta has responded to these peaceful protests with assault, mass arbitrary detention, threats, lethal use of force, and harassment. We believe these violations by the l security forces amount to crimes against humanity.

Since the start of the crackdown against the peaceful protesters, at least  200 civilian lives have been killed and almost 3000 individuals have been arbitrarily arrested including members of the NLD, legislators, officials from the Election commission, political activists, civil society members, civil servants, journalists, teachers, and so on. We are concerned that the numbers keep on increasing every day.

As of 7pm Myanmar time on 24 March 2021, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) Burma has documented 286 people killed during the coup, 2906 people were detained since 1 February 2021.

Amongst those detained include State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint who are facing trumped-up charges, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) report. No one should be charged for exercising their freedom of expression and their fundamental rights. To solve the current political crisis, we strongly call on the military council to relinquish the power, restore democracy, return power to the legitimate government and pursue a long-term peaceful political solution for a genuine federal union in Myanmar.

Therefore, we, the Myanmar ethnic refugees in Malaysia together with the undersigned Malaysian civil society organizations, strongly urge the Myanmar Embassy in Malaysia to take the following actions immediately.

  • To condemn the military coup and issue a public statement on cutting off ties with the illegal military council.
  • To call upon the army and police to stop using excessive and lethal force and firearms when dispersing crowds at peaceful protests. Peaceful protestors must be allowed to exercise their right freely and without fear of death or reprisals.
  • To call for the release of all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.
  • To stop cooperating with the illegitimate military council, and to join the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) to stand together with the people of Myanmar.
  • To officially contact the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) to assist and support the Myanmar citizens in Malaysia.
  • To support the restoration of democracy and the establishment of a genuine federal union in Myanmar.

Signed by the following groups:

  1. Milk Tea Alliance Malaysia
  2. KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)
  3. Justice for Sisters (JFS)
  4. Svara
  5. North-South Initiative (NSI)
  6. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
  7. Milk Tea Alliance Myanmar
  8. Milk Tea Alliance Indonesia
  9. Milk Tea Alliance Philippines
  10. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
  11. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
  12. Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy
  13. Electoral Education Movement (SEED)
  14. Persatuan Tiong Nua Negeri Sembilan
  15. Coalition of Burma Ethnics Malaysia
  16. Agora Society
  17. Beyond Borders
  18. Rohingya Society in Malaysia (RSM)
  19. Pemuda Sosialis
  20. Liberasi
  21. Projek Dialog
  22. University of Malaya Associatio of New Youth (UMANY)
  23. Christian Refugees Organisation (KL-UPC)
  24. Liga Rakyat Demokratik
  25. Demokrat Kebangsaan
  26. Demokrat Universiti Malaya
  27. Demokrat Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  28. UNDI18
  29. ABIM
  30. Institute for Leadership and Development Studies
  31. ARUS Anak Muda
  32. Pejuanita Muda Malaysia
  33. Tenaganita
  34. Bersih 2.0
  35. Pusat KOMAS

Signed by the following individuals:

  1. Ivy Josiah (Women’s Rights Activist)
  2. Syaq Koyok (Malaysian Contemporary Indigenous Temuan Activist/Artist)
  3. Charles Santiago (Member of Parliament for Klang and Chairperson of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, APHR)
  4. Kasthuri Patto (Member of Parliament for Batu Kawan, APHR)
  5. Natrah Ismail (Member of Parliament for Sekijang, APHR)
  6. Wong Chen (Member of Parliament for Subang, APHR)
  7. Noor Amin Ahmad (Member of Parliament for Kangar)
  8. Maria Chin (Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya)

  • About CIJ

    The Centre for Independent Journalism is a non-profit organisation promoting media independence and freedom of expression in Malaysia.

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