The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma Condemns Military Detainment of Government Officials and Human Rights Defenders

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1 February 2021: The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma) strongly condemns the actions of the Myanmar Tatmadaw which led to the arrest and detainment of Government officials, including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President, U Win Myint. The arrests were made early in the morning as those in Burma awoke to Internet outages and communication blackouts. This coordinated attack on democracy constituted that of a coup under the leadership of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. We are concerned for the safety of those detained currently and for the future security of those in the country. Further, ND-Burma calls for their immediate and unconditional release and for the Myanmar Tatmadaw to respect the 2020 General Election results, in which the National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government secured a second term victory. The international community must put pressure on the military to adhere to democratic norms and principles, including abolishing the 2008 constitution and re-writing one in its place that does not allow for an abuse of power.

After the military affiliated party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, lost in the 2020 General Election, the military began questioning the integrity of the results. Despite not having any evidence of alleged election fraud they have repeatedly asserted, they continued to push back on claims they were undermining democracy. Now, they are citing section 417 of the Constitution to justify their coup over the Union Election Commission’s management of the election and election results.

A state of emergency has been declared by the Myanmar Tatmadaw. By way of the Constitution, they have also taken over all three powers of the State including the legislature, executive and judiciary for one year. Their actions today are evident that the Myanmar Tatmadaw is truly not interested in committing to a peaceful transfer of power, nor are they interested in abiding by the country’s existing laws. This week an emergency meeting at the United Nations Security Council must be called, and members must address the current situation in Myanmar with greater force and effectiveness than they have in the past. This must include the UN Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to respond to the situation, including sending a delegation to Myanmar. Calls from civil society organizations must not be ignored.

ND-Burma lends our solidarity to long-time human rights defenders of Burma, who have stood tall in the face of resistance against the forces of the Myanmar Tatmadaw. We align our efforts for justice and respect for the rule of law with the civilians who have lived through history repeating itself too many times. We therefore reinforce our calls for the release of the political leaders and stakeholders immediately. Thus, ASEAN countries must unify in condemnation against the actions of the Myanmar Tatmadaw and assist in the return to civilian government and protection of human rights. The international community at large has a responsibility to not only condemn these actions but to hold the actors within the country accountable for the military’s crimes against democracy and its people.

Media Contact

U Aung Zaw Oo
Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters, Communications and Advocacy Director
+95 942 103 9493 (Burmese)

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ND-Burma is a network that consists of 13-member organisations who represent a range of ethnic nationalities, women and former political prisoners. ND-Burma member organisations have been documenting human rights abuses and fighting for justice for victims since 2004. The network consists of nine Full Members and four Affiliate Members as follows:

Full Members:

  1. All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress 
    2.     Assistance Association for Political Prisoners
    3.     Association Human Rights Defenders and Promoters 
    4.     Future Light Center 
    5.     Human Rights Foundation of Monland
    6.     Kachin Women’s Association – Thailand
    7.     Ta’ang Women’s Organization
    8.     Ta’ang Students and Youth Union
    9.     Tavoyan Women’s Union 

 Affiliate Members:

  1. Chin Human Rights Organization
    2.     East Bago – Former Political Prisoners Network
    3.     Pa-O Youth Organization
    4.     Progressive Voice

Statement of Opinion on Current Situation

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February 1, 2021

  1. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) can not believe in this military coup, Burma’s democracy must be upheld.
  2. The current political conditions in Burma do not require a state of emergency.
  3. According to the basic principle of democracy, that refers to the power of the state derived from the people, the election result on November 8, 2020 must be recognized as the true will of the people.
  4. The detentions of members of the civilian government and elected representatives is not in line with any existing law and tarnishes Myanmar’s image among the international community.
  5. We therefore urge the immediate release of all these political detainees.

 

For more information:

Info@aappb.org

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi urged people to oppose a coup: published statement

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(Reuters) – A verified Facebook account from Myanmar’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party on Monday published a statement on behalf of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying that people should not accept a military coup and should protest.

The NLD said the statement, which was uploaded on a Facebook page used by the party during its election campaign, was written before Monday’s coup had taken place. Reuters could not immediately reach NLD party officials for comment.

Suu Kyi has not been seen in public since she was detained in early morning raids along with other key party figures and activists.

“The actions of the military are actions to put the country back under a dictatorship,” said the statement, which carried leader Suu Kyi’s name but not her signature.

“I urge people not to accept this, to respond and wholeheartedly to protest against the coup by the military.”

The statement was issued by the party chairman Win Htein, who in a handwritten note at the bottom stressed it was authentic and reflected Suu Kyi’s wishes.

“On my life I swear, that this request to the people is Aung San Suu Kyi’s genuine statement,” wrote Win Htein, who could not be reached by Reuters.

Reporting by Reuters Staff; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Ed Davies

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Reuters

Myanmar Military Arrests National Leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint

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By THE IRRAWADDY 1 February 2021

The Myanmar military detained the country’s de facto leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint in the early hours on Monday, according to National League for Democracy (NLD) spokesperson Dr. Myo Nyunt. Some of the ruling party’s Central Executive Committee members, lawmakers and regional cabinet members have been taken into custody as well. The apparent military coup occurred just hours before the scheduled start of the first session of the new, NLD-dominated Parliament on Monday morning. Mobile phone services have been cut off in Naypyitaw.

The arrests follow last week’s sharp escalation in tensions between the civilian government and the military after the latter made what was perceived as a threat to stage a coup if the government failed to act on its claims of mass fraud in November’s general election. The NLD won the vote in a landslide.

Dr. Myo Nyunt told The Irrawaddy: “This is a military coup attempt, but they can claim it is not, by forcing the President to call an urgent national security meeting for an official handover of power to them,” which would make the military takeover official.

According to the Constitution, only the President can declare a state of emergency and hand over power to the military.

The state-run television service is currently cut off and only the military-owned Myawaddy channel is accessible. Mobile communications are limited to within regions only.

Topics: arrest, central executive committee, Coup, Election, fraud, Military, National League for Democracy, national security meeting, NLD, Parliament, President U Win Myint, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Tatmadaw

Irrawaddy

Joint Statement by Diplomatic Missions in Myanmar

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January 29, 2021
Joint Statement by Diplomatic Missions in Myanmar
We affirm our support for Myanmar’s democratic transition and efforts to promote peace, human rights, and development in the country. We look forward to the peaceful convening of the Parliament on February 1 and the election of the President and speakers. Once again, we congratulate the people of Myanmar on their historic participation in the country’s recent general election. We urge the military, and all other parties in the country, to adhere to democratic norms, and we oppose any attempt to alter the outcome of the elections or impede Myanmar’s democratic transition. We support all those who work toward greater democratic freedoms, lasting peace, and inclusive prosperity for the people of Myanmar.
From the Diplomatic Missions of Australia; Canada; the Delegation of the EU and European Union Member States with presence in Myanmar: Denmark, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden; as well as Switzerland; the United Kingdom; the United States; Norway; and New Zealand

AA threats spark concerns of forced recruitment targeting Chin villages in northern Rakhine State

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(Minbya Township, Rakhine State – 29 January 2021)
The Arakan Army (AA) has begun issuing demands for trainees in approximately 80 Chin populated villages in Minbya, Mrauk-U and Myebon Townships, Rakhine State. It is reported that the AA has demanded five people from each village to attend “administrative training” which are to be organized at a later date:
“Three men in civilian clothes who said that they were members of the AA arrived in our village on 3 January. The whole village was summoned to a meeting where we were informed that although we are Chin [the village population] we had to send five people to attend from each village as we live in Rakhine State. We were told that the people we send must be male and under 45 years old. We were also told that the village community would be required to pay the families of those individuals that attended the training the sum of 400,000 MMK (approx. 300 USD) while they were away. Because five people from a village are to attend the training, we will need to collect 20 lakhs [2 million MMK] (approx. 1500 USD) from each village. They did not say when the training would start but told us to be ready,” said a source from Minbya Township who requested anonymity.
Community members interviewed by CHRO raised concerns that given the level of poverty in the rural areas, the village populations would struggle to pay the costs, “in our village, there are a total of 113 houses which includes households run by widows and widowers. If 20 lakhs is to be collected, we will have to pay around 20,000 kyats per household, two-thirds of the people in our village have financial difficulties,” said another local from Minbya.
According to other sources, Minbya, where 30 villages have allegedly been approached, is not the only township where such demands have been initiated by the AA, a further 50 Chin villages in Myebon and Mrauk-U Townships have also been targetted:
“The Chin people in Rakhine State have been subjected to various forms of racial oppression and discrimination by the AA and their supporters. The AA has also threatened that any family members who share information about anyone killed from the AA’s ill-treatment, torture or brutality inflicted upon them will be killed as a punishment.”
For media inquiries please contact:
Salai Lian, +95 (0) 9450 687 296 (English/Burmese)
Salai Terah, 09255934177 (Burmese)