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

Memorandum to the Myanmar Embassy in Malaysia on the escalating violence in
Myanmar
31 March 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 ethnic, 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 security forces amount to crimes against humanity, and potential other
serious international crimes.

Since the start of the crackdown against the peaceful protesters, at least 500 lives have
been taken and more than 2500 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 everyday.

As of 5pm Myanmar time on 30 March 2021, Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners (AAPP) Burma has documented 510 people killed during the coup, 2574
people were detained since 1 February 2021.

Amongst those detained include State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
President U 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 peaceful freedom of expression and their fundamental rights. To solve
the current political crisis, we strongly call on the military council to relinquish their
power, respect democracy, to step down and to provide political power to the legitimate
civilian government and to 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 and to stop attacking
  members of the public. 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 building of a meaningful democracy, restoration of public trust,
  and the establishment of a genuine federal union in Myanmar.

Signed by:

1. Milk Tea Alliance Malaysia
2. KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)
3. Justice for Sisters
4. Svara
5. North South Initiative (NSI)
6. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
7. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
8. Milk Tea Alliance Myanmar
9. Milk Tea Alliance Indonesia
10.Milk Tea Alliance Philippines
11.Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
12.Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
13.Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy
14.Electoral Education Movement(SEED)
15.Persatuan Tiong Hua Negeri Sembilan
16.Coalition of Burma Ethnics Malaysia
17.Agora Society
18.Beyond borders
19.Rohingya Society in Malaysia (RSM)
20.Pemuda Sosialis3
21.Liberasi
22.Projek Dialog
23.University of Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY)
24.Christian Refugees Organization (KL- UPC)
25.Liga Rakyat Demokratik
26.Demokrat Kebangsaan
27.Demokrat Universiti Malaya
28.Demokrat Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
29.Undi18
30.ABIM
31.Institute for Leadership and Development Studies
32.ARUS Anak Muda
33.Pejuanita Muda Malaysia
34.Tenaganita
35.Bersih 2.0
36.Pusat KOMAS
37.Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section
38.POWR
39.MUDA

Individual
40.Ivy Josiah (Women’s Rights Activist)
41.Syaq Koyok (Malaysian Contemporary Indigenous Temuan Activist/Artist)
42.Charles Santiago (Member of Parliament for Klang and Chairperson of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, APHR)
43.Kasthuri Patto (Member of Parliament for Batu Kawan, APHR)
44.Natrah Ismail (Member of Parliament for Sekijang, APHR)
45.Wong Chen (Member of Parliament for Subang, APHR)
46.Noor Amin Ahmad (Member of Parliament for Kangar)
47.Maria Chin (Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya)
48.Sivarasa Rasiah (Member of Parliament for Sungai Buloh)
49.Tian Chua (National Vice President of the People’s Justice Party)
50.Ambiga Sreenevasan(Lawyer)

Photo: CBS News