Civil Society organizations reject UN Special Envoy’s proposal of “power sharing”
Raise alarm at her misinterpretation that the “military are in control”
247 civil society organizations reject UN Special Envoy, Dr Noeleen Heyzer’s, proposal that those defying the military must negotiate a power sharing as a solution to the current political, human rights and humanitarian crisis created by the terrorist military junta.
In an interview with Channel News Asia, the Special Envoy discusses finding “commonalities”, a political transformation requiring process and a “need to negotiate what this power sharing could look like”. Her comments have been met with strong reactions.
We further raise alarm at the comments she made during her interview in which she claims that “The military is in control at this particular time”.
These statements could set a dangerous precedent, that those who take control through brutal means – massacring, killing, raping, arresting, torturing, burning villages and people, targeting civilians using airstrikes and shelling – be welcomed to share power. Such suggestions send a signal to the military that the UN is willing to act as a broker for their power despite the grave crimes they have committed, and further embolden them to commit atrocities with total impunity.
The youth who are continuing to call for an end to the military’s terror are not being unrealistic in their efforts to see their human rights and fundamental freedoms protected. Their calls reflect the principles laid out in the UN Charter and deserve the full support and respect of UN mandate holders.
In addition, it is not required of revolutionary movements to end in a power sharing agreement with those that have committed genocide and continue to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. History has shown us that coups around the world have failed, and revolutions have succeeded. Those who have committed grave international crimes must be held accountable, not offered more power, a seat at the table and legitimacy by the international community. This will only embolden them to continue to commit grave crimes with total impunity.
It has been over a decade since the military initiated their political process of power sharing. This consisted of unelected military officials holding 25% of the seats in parliament and control over key ministries that were integral to the governance of Myanmar, under a military-drafted 2008 Constitution that undemocratically ensured their place in the corridors of power.
They stole the wealth of the people of Myanmar for decades during the military dictatorship and throughout the military orchestrated political process of the past decade. They exploited natural resources, while continuing to commit war crimes against people who live in resource-rich ethnic areas.
For over 70 years the military has waged a fierce war against ethnic peoples, committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. While sharing limited power with the National League for Democracy, they committed war crimes and crimes against humanity against ethnic people and genocide against the Rohingya.
The Special Envoy should advise the UN Security Council to immediately refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court so that these grave crimes committed by the Myanmar military can be investigated and prosecuted. Offering them a seat at the negotiating table is not in accordance with the “will and interests of the people of Myanmar” as adopted in resolutions at the UN General Assembly.
The Special Envoy’s misinterpretation that “the military is in control” could not be farther from the truth. Over the past year, Myanmar people’s revolutionary movement has successfully prevented the military from grabbing power over the country, despite all its brutal efforts. The military are, however, conducting fierce airstrikes in ethnic areas where they are losing territorial control; shooting and shelling people forcing them to flee across the border into neighboring countries, threatening international peace and security; burning bodies including children and staff of international organizations in an attempt to instill terror. These are not acts of a military who are in control.
International experts on Myanmar have previously stated in response to UN officials inaccurately suggesting that military has “taken over” or that it has an “iron grip on power”, that “Misinterpretation leads to misrepresentation, misrepresentation leads to misunderstanding, and misunderstanding leads to mistakes”. We could not agree more.
Such mistakes have been a persistent problem for the UN in Myanmar as outlined in the Rosenthal report, which found that systemic and structural failures rendered the UN impotent in the face of the Rohingya genocide. The UN must not make the same mistakes, and once again, fail the people of Myanmar.
If the Special Envoy is genuinely committed to a “Myanmar-led process” and engaging “directly with and listen carefully to all those affected by the ongoing crisis”, she must understand the root causes of the current crisis and genuinely listen to the calls of the people of Myanmar. Their calls have been clear. The military must never rule.
The UN Special Envoy and other mandate holders, as well as UN agencies, funds programs and entities, must support the calls of the people of Myanmar and their efforts towards a future federal democratic Myanmar. They must respect their will and work to ensure that the military is never again allowed to have power.
For further information, please contact:
- Khin Ohmar, Progressive Voice, info@progressive-voice.org
- Naw Hser Hser, Women’s League of Burma, secretariat@womenofburma.org
- Mu Angela, Union of Karenni State Youth, angel.moe1990@gmail.com
Signed by Myanmar CSOs and Supported by Regional and International CSOs:
- Action Committee for Democracy Development
- Ah Nah Podcast – Conversation with Myanmar
- Albany Karen community, Albany, NY
- All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress
- Alternative Solutions for Rural Communities (ASORCOM)
- ALTSEAN-Burma
- American Rohingya Advocacy/ Arakan Institute for Peace and Development
- Arizona Kachin Community
- Asia Democracy Network
- Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition
- Asian Dignity Initiative
- Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
- Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
- Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
- Blood Money Campaign
- Boat People SOS
- Burma Action Ireland
- Burma Campaign UK
- Burma Canadian Association Ontario (BCAO)
- Burma Human Rights Network
- Burma Task Force
- Burmese American Community Institute (BACI), IN
- Burmese American Millennials
- Burmese Democratic Forces
- Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK
- Burmese Women’s Union
- C&D Corporation
- Calgary Karen Community Association (CKCA)
- California Kachin Community
- Cambodian Americans and Friends for Democracy and Human Rights Advocates
- Campaign for a New Myanmar
- Canadian Rohingya Development Initiative
- Chin Leaders of Tomorrow (CLT)
- CIVICIS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
- Coalition to Abolish Modern-day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA)
- Committee for Religious Freedom in Vietnam
- CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
- CRPH Funding Ireland
- Dallas Kachin Community
- DEEKU, the Karenni Community of TX
- Democracy for Ethnic Minorities Organization
- Democracy, Peace and Women’s Organization -DPW
- Dhanu Women Organization
- Dhanu Youth Organization
- Edmonton Karen Community Youth Organization
- Educational Initiatives Myanmar (Czech Republic)
- Equality Myanmar
- European Karen Network
- European Rohingya Council
- Federal FM Mandalay
- Florida Kachin Community
- Foundation of Khmer Samaki (FKSamaki)
- Free Burma Action Bay/USA/Global
- Free Myanmar Campaign USA
- Freedom for Burma
- Freedom, Justice, Equality for Myanmar
- Future Light Center
- Future Light Women and Child Protection Organization
- Future Thanlwin
- Generation Wave
- Georgia Kachin Community
- Global Movement for Myanmar Democracy (GM4MD)
- Global Myanmar Spring Revolution (GMSR)
- Global Neighbors Canada
- Global Neighbors Thailand Foundation
- Houston Kachin Community
- Human Rights Action Center
- Human Rights Foundation of Monland
- Info Birmanie
- Initiatives for International Dialogue
- Institute for Asian Democracy
- Inter Pares
- International Campaign for the Rohingya
- International Karen Organisation
- Iowa Kachin Community
- Justice for Myanmar
- Kachin American Community (Portland – Vancouver)
- Kachin Community of Indiana
- Kachin Community of USA
- Kachin Women’s Association Thailand
- Kansas Karenni Community, KS
- Karen American Association of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
- Karen Association of Huron, SD
- Karen Community Association UK
- Karen Community in Syracuse, NY
- Karen Community in the Netherlands (KCNL)
- Karen Community of Akron, OH
- Karen Community of Canada (KCC)
- Karen Community of Czech Republic
- Karen Community of Finland
- Karen Community of Hamilton
- Karen Community of Iowa, IA
- Karen Community of Ireland
- Karen Community of Israel
- Karen Community of Kansas City, KS & MO
- Karen Community of Kitchener & Waterloo
- Karen Community of Leamington K
- Karen Community of Lethbridge
- Karen Community of London
- Karen Community of Minnesota, MN
- Karen Community of North Carolina, NC
- Karen Community of Ottawa
- Karen Community of Regina
- Karen Community of Rochester, Rochester, NY
- Karen Community of Saskatoon
- Karen Community of Thunderbay
- Karen Community of Toronto
- Karen Community of Windsor
- Karen Community of Winnipeg
- Karen Community Society of British Columbia (KCSBC)
- Karen Environmental and Social Action Network
- Karen Finland Culture Association
- Karen Human Rights Group
- Karen Organization of America
- Karen Organization of Illinois, IL
- Karen Peace Support Network
- Karen Rivers Watch
- Karen Swedish Community (KSC)
- Karen Thai Group
- Karen Women’s Organization
- Karen Youth Education Pathways
- Karen Youth Networks
- Karen Youth of Norway
- Karen Youth of Toronto
- Karen Youth Organization
- Karen Youth UK (KYUK)
- Karenni Baptist Convention of America
- Karenni Civil Society Network
- Karenni Community of Amarillo, TX
- Karenni Community of Arizona
- Karenni Community of Arkansas,
- Karenni Community of Austin, TX
- Karenni Community of Bowling Green, KY
- Karenni Community of Buffalo, NY
- Karenni Community of Chicago, IL
- Karenni Community of Colorado, CO
- Karenni Community of Connecticut, CT
- Karenni Community of Dallas, TX
- Karenni Community of Des Moines, IA
- Karenni Community of Florida, FL
- Karenni Community of Fort Wayne, IN
- Karenni Community of Fort Worth, TX
- Karenni Community of Georgia, GA
- Karenni Community of Grand Rapid, MI
- Karenni Community of Houston, TX
- Karenni Community of Idaho, ID
- Karenni Community of Indianapolis, IN
- Karenni Community of Lansing, MI
- Karenni Community of Lousiville, KY
- Karenni Community of Massachusetts, MA
- Karenni Community of Minnesota, MN
- Karenni Community of Missouri, MO
- Karenni Community of New Jersey, NJ
- Karenni Community of North Carolina, NC
- Karenni Community of Portland, OR
- Karenni Community of Rockford, IL
- Karenni Community of San Antonio, TX
- Karenni Community of Sioux Falls, SD
- Karenni Community of Utah, UT
- Karenni Community of Utica, NY
- Karenni Community of Washington, WA
- Karenni Community of Wisconsin, WI
- Karenni Federation of Australia
- Karenni National Women’s Organization
- Karenni Society of Canada
- Karenni Society of Omaha, NE
- Karenni Talkshow-KTS, USA
- Karenni Youth of Minnesota, MN
- Karenni-American Association
- Karenni-American Catholic Association
- Kayahlilaykloe, Austin, MN
- Kayahliphu Youth – KLY
- Kayaw Women Association
- Keng Tung Youth
- Kentucky Kachin Community
- KnA-Kay Phoe Du prgm
- Korea Karen Organization
- Korea Karen Youth Organization
- Kyaukpadaung Youth Network
- Kyaukse University Interim Administrative Council
- Kyaukse University Students’ Union
- LA Rohingya Association/America Rohingya Justice Network
- Let’s Help Each Other
- Los Angeles Myanmar Movement
- Louisiana Kachin Community
- Mandalay Regional Youth Association
- Mandalay Regional Youth Network
- Maramagri Youth Network
- Maryland Kachin Community
- MeBoun Foundation
- Metta Campaign Mandalay
- Michigan Kachin Community
- Milk Tea Alliance
- Minnesota Kachin Community
- My STORY photo project Association
- Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP)
- Myanmar Advocacy Coalition
- Myanmar Community Austria
- Myanmar Cultural Research Society (MCRS)
- Myanmar Family Community Ireland
- Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
- Myanmar Student Association Ontario (MSAO)
- Nationalities Alliance of Burma USA
- Network for Human Rights Documentation Burma (ND-Burma)
- New York Kachin Community
- No Business With Genocide
- North Carolina Kachin Community
- Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
- Olive Organization
- Omaha Kachin Community
- Oversea Karen Organization Japan
- Pa-O Women’s Union
- Pennsylvania Kachin Community
- Progressive Voice
- Rochester Karenni Community, NY
- Rohingya Action Ireland
- Sandhi Governance Institute
- Save and Care Organization for Ethnic Women at Border Areas
- SEA Junction
- Shan MATA
- Sisters2Sisters
- Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
- South Carolina Kachin Community
- Southern Youth Development Organization
- Stefanus Alliance International
- Students for Free Burma
- Support the Democracy Movement in Burma
- Swedish Burma Committee
- Synergy – Social Harmony Organization
- Ta’ang Women’s Organization
- Ta’ang Legal Aid
- Tanintharyi MATA
- Taunggyi Youth Center
- Tennessee Kachin Community
- The Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
- U.S. Campaign for Burma
- Union of Karenni State Youth
- Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
- United States Chin Coalition (USCC)
- Virginia Kachin Community
- Washington Kachin Community
- West Virginia Kachin Community
- Women Activists Myanmar
- Women Advocacy Coalition Myanmar (WAC-M)
- Women’s League of Burma
- Women’s Peace Network
- West Coast Burmese Coalition (WCBC):
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